On May 25th 2022, the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed held our Annual Delegate Conference (ADC). It was the third year in a row that the ADC was held online. Seventy people were in attendance, coming from INOU affiliated organisations and the General Branch - the mechanism through which unemployed people play an active part in the running of the organisation.
Ann Fergus, the Chairperson of the INOU welcomed the delegates to the Conference. Ann noted the impact of the rising cost of living on people; the need for a substantial increase in social welfare payments; and the levels the Pandemic Unemployment Payment was set at, demonstrated how positively Government can respond when required.
Amanda Kelly, INOU Financial Controller presented the organisation’s accounts to the Conference, and John Stewart, INOU Coordinator gave an overview of the organisation’s work since the last ADC meeting in June 2021.
Four motions were discussed and passed at the Conference including:
- Given the rising cost of living, the poverty experienced by unemployed people and others dependent on a social welfare payment, the INOU urges the Government to benchmark all social welfare rates at a level which is sufficient to lift people above the poverty line and provide them with a Minimum Essential Standard of Living.
- The spiralling cost of living has resulted in a Government response for across-the-board measures for everyone including excise duty cuts and a €200 rebate. This may not be sustainable on a widespread basis. The INOU calls on the Government to ensure that social welfare payment increases at least match the cost-of-living increases and to introduce targeted anti-inflationary measures for those in receipt of social welfare payments.
- The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment has highlighted that it is possible for payments to be introduced with a minimum of form filling. The INOU calls on the Government to reduce the unnecessary bureaucracy in applying for social welfare payments and benefits and to ensure they are as easy to complete as possible.
- The INOU calls on the Government to finally incorporate a new ground into Ireland’s equality legislation, that of socio-economic status, and to seriously address the issues of inequality and exclusion in Ireland’s labour market.
The final part of the Conference was an open discussion on delegates experiences of the impact of the rising cost of living on their work and lives; the lessons to be learnt as Ireland emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic; and the supports available in people’s local communities or through their work for people fleeing the war in Ukraine.
Amongst the issues raised in the discussion were:
- the challenge of meeting the increased level of demand for supports like food;
- that for many rural areas the impact of the 2008 financial crisis had barely faded when COVID-19 pandemic hit;
- the depth and scale of the housing crisis is not being dealt with adequately;
- the impact of crisis management on the delivery of other essential day-to-day services and supports;
- the positive impact on attendance rates of people being able to attend meetings online or by phone;
- the challenges facing people who have to collect their Jobseekers Allowance payment in the nearest Post Office, which can be particularly difficult in rural areas with little public transport and fewer Post Offices;
- the development and use of networks and events, both virtual and in-person, to inform people from Ukraine of supports, work, and other opportunities; and,
- the role of local employers in helping people to get from their accommodation to their place of employment.
The INOU’s Annual Report for 2021 was published online after the Conference is linked here.