ICTU seeks senior economist to head up research unit

THE Irish Congress of Trade Unions has advertised for a highly-qualified senior economist to head up a special economic unit which, it hopes, will bring a united trade union approach to the economic crisis.

Over the next five years, ICTU-affiliated unions are to invest at least €1.5m in the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU).

This will, ICTU says, “provide high-quality research and analysis that will contribute to the achievement of greater levels of equality and fairness across the island of Ireland”.

“A key focus of the unit will be to undertake original research and analysis on the impact of official economic policies on working people and their families and on whether such policies would contribute to the attainment of greater levels of equality in society,” an ICTU spokesman said.

“The EIU will publish and promote research findings in order to develop awareness of and comprehension of economic theories and how they affect the daily lives of working people.”

ICTU has advertised for a director to lead the unit.

The union says that it is looking for an exceptional leader with at least 10 years’ experience “with a thorough knowledge of macro-economic policy including taxation, fiscal policy, income distribution and the operation of the labour market, as well as a good appreciation of the issues related to the global financial crisis and eurozone governance issues”.

“This in a unique opportunity to for an exceptional leader to direct a programme of research that has the potential to make a meaningful contribution towards the achievement of economic equality,” the union said.