Former president Michael D Higgins has made his first public address in Galway, two days after leaving office.
Speaking at the SIPTU Biennial Delegate Conference, he said the trade union movement is at the forefront of all social issues including health and housing.
Around 300 delegates will debate dozens of motions this week on topics including pay, pensions, online abuse and the protection of whistleblowers.
The former president told the gathered SIPTU members he has been a trade unionist for 64 years.
He described how the beginning of the workers rights movement was about courage; how some workers had the courage to speak to others about how they should be treated fairly.
He urged those gathered to continue to have courage and look out for other workers. Mr Higgins said the trade union movement will always be at the forefront of issues around economy and justice.
He said there is a "new connection" between nature and justice, and food and security, and that people who offer the best information on those issues such as seminars, talks and papers are representatives of the trade union movement.
The former president said the workers struggle is ongoing and "knows no borders" and told the union representatives to "have the courage, at least, to say we regard the dignity, the equality, the rights of justice and the welfare and the fulfilment of workers wherever they are all over our planet".
To applause Micheal D Higgins told the crowd in Galway "until we draw our last breath we say ….trade unions are what we do together for what we want together for everybody".
