‘No excuse for political delay’ on Stormont Good Jobs Bill, unions say

There is no “excuse for political delay” in Stormont passing landmark employment rights legislation, a trade union rally has heard.

Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald reiterated her commitment to passing the Good Jobs Bill before the end of the current Assembly session, saying she will bring it to Executive colleagues by the end of this month.

There are proposals in the proposed legislation relating to zero hour contracts, improving family-related leave and strengthening trade unions rights.

However, more than a year later, the Bill has still not been published or debated by MLAs.

Speaking after the rally, Ms Archibald said she wants the Good Jobs Bill “introduced into the Assembly as quickly as possible”.

She added: “At this point nobody has indicated that they are opposing or not supporting this Bill, so there is no reason why it couldn’t pass the Executive on May 28, and then be introduced into the Assembly shortly after that.

“But if it is not on the agenda of the Executive on May 28, that’s not a deadline, that’s not the end of the road, I will just keep working until it is on the agenda of the Executive, and from my perspective, there’s plenty of time for this Bill to be scrutinised before the end of the mandate.

Asked if there were concerns the Bill may be watered down in an effort to get it passed in time, the Sinn Fein minister said “that would certainly not be my intention”.

“I want to see the Bill as I have drafted it on the floor of the Assembly to be debated, once it’s in the Assembly, it is out of my hands,” she said.

“The MLAs in that Assembly make the final decision on what is in a Bill but they will have to answer to workers also in terms of the decisions they make about this legislation.”

Gerry Murphy, assistant general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), said politicians cannot “use process as an excuse for political delay”.

He told the gathered trade union members: “If this Bill is blocked or delayed at the Executive level, it will not be because more consultation was needed, it will not be because the evidence was not there, it will not be because workers have not made their case.

DUP MLA Phillip Brett, who is also chairman of the Economy Committee, said he was “disappointed” the Bill was not before the committee when originally scheduled in December 2025.

“Concerns have not just been raised with me by businesses but also by trade unions,” he said.

“The fact that severe weather warnings have not been included in this Bill has been something that a number of trade union members have contacted me about, and it’s important that we as a committee ensure that the voices not just of business but of trade unions are heard in this.”

Leader of the Opposition SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole said the proposed legislation “could have been published months ago”.

“Let me say this to all of you trade union members – don’t accept any BS from those parties in the Executive when they come here and stand, and then don’t get this thing through the Executive and then on to the floor of the Assembly,” he said.

“Hold them to account as we, the official opposition, will hold them to account.”

UUP deputy leader Diana Armstrong, Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl and People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll also addressed the rally.