Abortion issue no business of trade unions

WITH regard to the report headlined ‘ICTU defers abortion motion’ (July 9), I am at a loss to see why such a motion was proposed in the first place and am very glad it was thrown out.

Is there not enough for the trade unions to be doing that they need to get involved in such an issue.

The abortion issue is outside the remit of the trade union movement and therefore I believe it has no right to lobby either for or against such a motion. It should be left to pro-life or pro-choice groups to lobby on such an issue, putting forward their members’ views.

As for Ms Kerry Fleck of the Belfast Trades Council, I would be interested to see on her job spec where it says time should be given over to lobby trade unions in the Republic over a personal issue.

From the report, Ms Fleck maintains the choice is made not by the woman but “instead, it is made by politicians, doctors, lawyers and clergy”. Ms Fleck, in her busy schedule, is obviously ignorant of or chooses to ignore the fact that we have had not one but three referenda in relation to abortion in the Republic (1983, 1992, 2002).

Therefore, it was the people of the Republic who made the choice.

Whether Ms Fleck agrees with the outcome is her own personal view and she should not try to impose it on the ICTU.

I suggest she should consider joining the pro-life or pro-choice movement, whichever is her personal preference.

By all means, she should use her experience in life and experience gained in her work environment to help in promoting her view, but she should not use her union position to promote her personal views.

Niamh Murphy

Rathnaroughy

Innishannon

Co Cork