Members of Unison walked out of their meeting today after they alleged the venue took issue with a slide they displayed
A trade union halted an event in Belfast’s Waterfront after being “prevented” from displaying a slide in support of the people of Palestine.
Earlier today, Unison delegates and their supporters walked out of their regional council meeting at the Belfast venue after alleging staff stopped a graphic about Palestine being displayed.
A post from Unison’s X account reads: “The UNISON Northern Ireland regional council meeting was abandoned when managers of ICC Waterfront prevented a slide about Palestine being displayed in the venue.”
Unison general secretary Christina McAnea and Unison Northern Ireland secretary Patricia McKeown then led members in a demonstration outside ICC Belfast convention centre after the meeting was abandoned. The incident was documented on the trade union’s social media accounts.
Ms McAnea said: “We will not allow political vetting of our union’s policy of supporting Palestine. How can this image be offensive when it is simply stating the policy of the United Nations, the ICJ and Belfast City Council, which owns the venue.”
Protesters were heard chanting: “When Palestine is under attack. Stand up. Fight back. When UNISON is under attack. Stand up. Fight back.”
Belfast City councillor Anthony Flynn said on his Facebook page: “I have been a member of the shareholders committee of the Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall for all the time I’ve been on the council.
“This behaviour stands in line with many of the issues we have been raising with the governance arrangement of the BWUH for many years.
“A decade ago Belfast City councillors surrendered democratic control of these public assets to an arms length company with profit in mind, side-lining democratic accountability. Now, elected representatives are left out of any operational decision making, but we still bare responsibility for ridiculous decisions like this, we are raising our concerns as a matter of urgency.”
Unison accused the venue of “political vetting” and “damaging its own business plan” — it claimed The Waterfront were in breach of contract with the trade union.
On Unison Northern Ireland’s Facebook page, a statement read: “No logical explanation has been given to UNISON despite repeated attempts by the union and by many Belfast City councillors, MLAs and MPs to explain that The Waterfront is totally misrepresenting Belfast City Council’s policies on equality and human rights.”
According to Sinn Féin councillor Ciaran Beattie, legal advice has been requested following the decision by ICC Belfast (Waterfront) to ban the Palestine graphic at the meeting.
Councillor Beattie made the request at a meeting of Belfast City Council’s Strategic Policy & Resources Committee, which has been suspended until further notice. He said: “We have suspended today’s meeting until there is legal clarity around the decision to ban a graphic highlighting Israel’s genocide, illegal occupation and ethnic cleansing in Gaza. Highlighting the plight of the Palestinian people, who continue to face ongoing human rights violations, is not a crime nor is there anything wrong with it.
“In our opinion, this decision by Waterfront management is wrong-headed and completely ill-judged. Our solidarity is with UNISON and all trade unionists at today’s conference. We now await legal advice on this decision.”
Belfast City Council was approached by Belfast Live for comment.
A spokesman from the council said: “Council officers were contacted by ICC Belfast yesterday regarding a request by UNISON to display graphics on directional screens located in corridors and reception areas of the venue at their event today. These small screens are used primarily to signpost visitors around the venue and are located in common areas of the building used by all visitors, staff and event delegates.
“Advice was provided that the location of these screens would form part of the workplace for ICC staff, and the venue has a legal obligation to provide a fair and harmonious working environment. This advice was then provided to UNISON by ICC Belfast. There was no issue raised over any conference presentation content, as that is a matter for the event organiser.
“After discussion at this morning’s meeting of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, the council liaised further with ICC management regarding this issue. Following engagement with Waterfront staff and their trade union representatives, it was agreed that the graphics could be displayed on the directional screens for the duration of the event.
“Elected members have also agreed that a framework should be developed by officers to provide clear guidance to event organisers on any future display of materials in all council-owned venues and areas within them. The committee decision on the development of a framework is subject to ratification at the next full council meeting on Monday, November 3.”
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