The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed

Specialties

The INOU is a federation of unemployed people, unemployed centres, unemployed groups, community organisations and Trade Unions.

The INOU represents and defends the rights and interests of those who want decent employment and cannot obtain it.

History

Established in 1987.

The INOU was formed in 1987 against a backdrop of high unemployment, low participation rates, long-​term unemployment and mass emigration. At the time, the scale of the unemployment crisis was such that collective action was needed both to bring forward potential solutions and to ensure that unemployed people had access to programmes and services and reasonable social welfare payments whilst unemployed.

From its fledgling roots, the organisation has developed over the last 25 years and now has 200 member groups including community based resource centres, Citizens Information Services, MABS, NGOs, trade unions and branches of unemployed people.

The INOU works at local and national levels on issues affecting unemployed people. We support local groups through services such as training, information and analysis of Government policies. The INOU also participates in Social Partnership through our membership of the Community and Voluntary Pillar. The INOU has also a Northern Ireland division