Madam, - August 2006 marks the third anniversary of the death of the former trade union leader and ICTU Northern Ireland officer, Terry Carlin. Having suffered a debilitating illness Terry's active and significant contribution to the trade union movement and to the wider Northern Ireland society ended some years earlier. Unlike the relative peace that we enjoy today Terry had to lead Congress through some of Northern Ireland's most difficult and trying times.
Given the total decline and lack of presence of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in the life of Northern Ireland today it is a sad reality that ICTU in Northern Ireland died with Terry Carlin.
Since then ICTU moved offices from a vibrant area of Belfast city to a corridor in a back-street alley. Gone are the commendations, condemnations, comments and opinions that we had come to expect from Congress in response to events affecting the lives of working people. Never since have we had an economic perspective on the real effects of policies, the lack of policies or the exploitative dealings of the private sector.
Given the current financial difficulties faced by individual trade unions and the subsequent requirement to increase member subscriptions, some must already be questioning the value of the not insignificant affiliation fees being paid annually to the ICTU. It is not a question of getting value for their money; it is more a case of getting nothing for it! - Yours, etc,
TREVOR CARLISLE, Kells, Co Antrim.