Ireland's two largest unions, SIPTU and the ATGWU, are holding a three-day residential course in anti-racism this weekend in Dundalk. Five full-time tutors from each union are participating and will then train union members.
The course is held under the auspices of the City Bridges project, which promotes intercommunity relations. It was set up originally by the Belfast and Dublin trades councils to combat sectarianism and is managed by the Irish Trade Union Trust, SIPTU's social solidarity service.
There will be contributions from the British Communications Workers' Union (CWU), the Equality Authority and Mr Dave Walsh of Open Minds diversity training consultancy. The course will also feature a panel discussion with representatives from Pavee Point, the asylum-seekers unit in FAS and trade union activists from different cultural backgrounds in England and Ireland.