Appointment to Chairperson of the Labour Relations Agency Board

4 March 2008

Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, has confirmed the appointment of Mr James McCusker as Chairperson of the Labour Relations Agency Board (LRA).  

Mr McCusker has over 35 years of full time involvement in employee relations as a trade union official. For 26 years until his recent retirement, he was General Secretary of the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance, the largest trade union in Northern Ireland representing 40,000 members in the civil, public and voluntary sectors. He is currently a member of the Public Service Commission, NI Economic Development Forum and the Industrial Court. He is a member of the board of governors of St Patrick’s College Belfast and of the European Economic and Social Committee. He also a member of the board of Concordia, which promotes social partnership between trade unions, employers, farmers and voluntary and community interests. He has been a member of the Board of the Labour Relations Agency since 2003.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. The Labour Relations Agency was established in 1976 by the Industrial Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 as the independent body responsible for promoting the improvement of employment relations in Northern Ireland. The Agency is a non-Departmental Public Body and is, broadly speaking, the Northern Ireland equivalent of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) in Great Britain.
  2. The appointment has been made in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments NI Code of Practice.
  3. The appointment will take effect from 1 March 2008 and run until 31 January 2011.
  4. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for the political activity of appointees to be published.
  5. Other members of the  Labour Relations Agency Board  are –
    Dr Boyd Black, Ms Julie Anne Clarke, Mrs Norma Heaton, Mrs Brenda Maitland, Mr Gordon Milligan, Mr Roden Ward, Mrs Patricia O’Farrell, Peter Williamson.
  6. Media queries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.
  7. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.