Brexit and its border implications John Patrick Clayton

Brexit and its border implications John Patrick Clayton UNISON Northern Ireland

UNISON Northern Ireland • • 1. 3 million members (UK) 40, 000 (Northern Ireland) Supported a remain vote 56% vote to remain in Northern Ireland

Political situation • A ‘hard’ brexit? • No Northern Ireland Executive or Assembly • Lack of coordinated policy and strategy in Northern Ireland

Irish Congress of Trade Unions • UNISON affiliate member • Largest civic society group on island of Ireland • Pursuing policies to ensure working people do not pay the price of Brexit • ‘Brexit – the Key Issues’ (ICTU, 2016)

Impact on Good Friday Agreement • Common membership of EU part of conditions in which agreement was reached • Concern that Brexit will negatively affect agreement • Protection of agreement must be negotiating priority

Equality and rights protections • EU law underpins worker’s rights and equality laws in Northern Ireland • Northern Ireland Assembly has competency in this area • Possibility for rights to be weakened • Great Repeal Bill • Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland required

Implications of a border for workers • 20, 000 regularly commute for work and study • Public service workers living in border communities • Can Common Travel Area be sustained? • UK could recognise right of all EU citizens to travel freely to the UK; recognise rights of Irish citizens to work

Implications for public services in Northern Ireland • Health and Social Care • Maintaining workforce levels • Uncertainty challenges recruitment and workforce planning • Recognition of qualifications and regulations • No accurate baseline figures, but clear services are highly dependent on EU migrants

Thank you j. clayton@unison. co. uk www. unison-ni. org. uk