History was made quietly this week when the Ulster Teachers' Union, which traditionally has represented Protestant teachers in Northern Ireland, joined the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, writes Padraig O'Morain.
The UTU's general secretary, Mr Ray Calvin, said the move "is something the union has been considering for nearly 30 years". The Belfast Agreement helped create a situation in which delegates voted unanimously at this year's annual conference to apply for affiliation to the ICTU. Mr Calvin said part of the motivation for the move was the need to have a more effective voice at European level.