Card Launch

Formal welcome of workers from accession member states and launch of campaign to promote the right of workers

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) along with the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) hosted a formal event for 1st May 2004 to mark the occasion of the accession of the New Member States to the EU and to launch a campaign promoting workers’ rights.

The Taoiseach, in his capacity as President of the European Union, officially launched the campaign and presented the ‘YOUR EUROPEAN UNION’ cards to the representatives from the ten countries. Maria Helena André, Deputy General Secretary of the ETUC along with David Begg, General Secretary of ICTU extended a formal welcome and highlighted the important role played by the union movement in securing and defending workers’ rights.

A celebratory event was organised to take place at the historic Taylor’s Hall in the centre of Dublin, on the morning of May 1st, attended by the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, leaders of the trade union movement in Ireland and representatives of the ETUC and trade unions from the new member states.

The trade union representatives from the New Member States were

formally presented with a ‘European Union Card’ which spells out the basic rights to which all EU workers are entitled. The information card is published in the ten main languages of the Accession States as well as in Irish and English. Information about the role of unions and guidance on how to join, along with directions on how to access further information will be provided for people coming to work in Ireland.

A mass communication campaign was designed around the event running up to and including May 1st. The campaign comprised mass communications mechanisms including billboard advertising, public information postering, and adshell sites.