More than 150 trade unionists signed a declaration calling on the labour movement to support a united Ireland.

The signatories also called to support a new all-Ireland constitution with workers' rights at the heart of it.

The declaration said it is “critically important that the interests of workers and working families are put at the heart of a new Ireland, which should be a united Ireland".

The declaration added: “This must be a new Ireland that puts workers' rights, economic rights, gender rights, as well as universal human rights front and centre in a new all-Ireland constitution.”

The new movement called 'Trade Unionists for a New and United Ireland' or TUNUI, includes a number of union general secretaries from across the island, and Liz Deasy and Karen Gearon, veterans of the Dunnes Stores anti-apartheid strike in 1984.

The signatories call on trade unionists across Ireland "to begin engaging in the debate for Irish unity. Profound social and constitutional changes have taken place across this island in recent years and the debate about future arrangements has already started.”

The document added: "As trade unionists working on both sides of the border, we believe it is critically important that the interests of workers and working families are put at the heart of this debate. If there is to be a united Ireland, it must be a new Ireland that puts workers' rights, economic rights, gender rights, as well as Universal Human rights front and centre in a new all-Ireland constitution.”

Spokesman and trade union official Ruairí Creaney said: "The debate on the future of Ireland north and south has been escalating significantly against the backdrop of Brexit and the rise of populist right-wing, and borderline fascist, movements in the United States and in a number of EU member states. It is now time to get it out in the open, and to ensure that the voice of trade unionism is to the forefront."

A conference entitled Uniting Workers – Uniting Ireland will be held at the Communications Workers' Union headquarters in Dublin on 27 April, with speakers from across the trade union movement and other organisations. The theme will be "uniting workers north and south within a vision of Irish unity, and what this means for workers' rights".

Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney welcomed the initiative. Commenting after attending the Belfast launch of the initiative in the Linenhall Library, the Sinn Féin spokesperson on Workers Rights said: "An opportunity is now opening up to reshape Ireland and Irish society for this and future generations.”