News Archive

SIPTU representatives will hold a formal meeting with the management of Cartamundi in Waterford next week to discuss the proposed closure of the company in August with the loss of 240 jobs. Greg Ennis, SIPTU Manufacturing Division Organiser said: “A...

The Keep Water Public Campaign called on the Government to hold a vote on the public ownership of water services, alongside the gender equality referendum in November 2023, at a protest today (Wednesday, 22nd March) outside Leinster House in Dublin....

SIPTU members formerly employed by Rehab Enterprises protested in Limerick City this afternoon (Tuesday, 21st March) and delivered a letter into the office of Minister of State, Kieran O’Donnell, demanding action to ensure they are paid their...

SIPTU members employed as day services staff by the St. Cronan’s Association, which provides support to adults living with intellectual disabilities at four facilities in the Midlands, have called for their inclusion in the Pandemic Special...

SIPTU members employed at the Nuremore Hotel and Country Club in Carrickmacross, county Monaghan, have formally applied to appoint a liquidator to the company, the application is listed to be heard in the High Court on Monday, 27th March. SIPTU...

SIPTU has stated that new figures obtained by the union clearly indicate that the staffing crisis in the childcare sector is not driven by a lack of qualified educators in Ireland but low pay forcing many to leave their chosen profession. SIPTU Head of...

SIPTU members formerly employed at the Rehab Enterprises logistics centre in Raheen, county Limerick, and their supporters, will protest outside the RehabCare office, Parnell Street, Limerick City on Tuesday (21st March) at 1.00 p.m....

SIPTU representatives are calling on the Minister for Education, Norma Foley, to ensure that union organisers have access to publicly funded school building sites, to brief workers on their legal rights and entitlements, following the repeated...

SIPTU representatives have written to the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, today (Wednesday, 15th March), seeking action by him to address the disparity in payments to public healthcare workers who are victims of serious physical assault...

The SIPTU Water Committee, composed of local authority workers involved in the provision of water services, has called on the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to clarify his position on holding a vote on maintaining the public ownership of water services alongside...

Workers employed at the Nuremore Hotel and Country Club in Carrickmacross, county Monaghan, have voted to refer all their outstanding issues with their employer, with whom they have had no contact since 1st January, to the Workplace Relations...

SIPTU members have called for urgent action to be taken by the Government on the worsening staffing crisis in ambulance services which will be debated in the Dáil this evening (Tuesday, 28th February) and tomorrow (Wednesday, 1st March). SIPTU...

SIPTU members in the National Ambulance Service (NAS) have renewed their call for the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, to directly intervene to ensure the recommendations of an independent review are implemented as part of a solution to a worsening...

The SIPTU Health Division has called on all parties to back a motion that will be tabled in Seanad Éireann this evening (Wednesday, 22nd February) which seeks supports for healthcare staff, who suffer an assault in the workplace, to be based...

SIPTU representatives have suspended two 24-hour work stoppages by members employed by the private bus operator Go-Ahead Ireland that were scheduled to take place on 1st and 8th March, after the company announced it will attend a Labour Court hearing in a...

SIPTU members employed at the Nuremore Hotel and Country Club in Carrickmacross, county Monaghan, have demanded the payment of their outstanding wages and clarification on the future of their workplace, following a social media statement posted...

SIPTU representatives have today (Thursday, 9th February) announced two 24-hour work stoppages by members employed by the private bus operator Go Ahead Ireland on 1st and 8th March, in a dispute over pay. SIPTU Sector Organiser, John Murphy,...

SIPTU representatives have called on the HSE and the Minister of Health, Stephen Donnelly, to develop an emergency plan to deal with the deficits in cancer services resulting from a 30% shortfall in radiation therapists. SIPTU Sector Organiser, John...

SIPTU representatives will raise the disparity in supports for assaulted health sector staff at a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health, tomorrow (Wednesday, 8th February). The Committee is meeting to discuss the safety and welfare of workers...

The Government should raise the minimum wage to at least €12 per hour, according to SIPTU Services Division Organiser, Teresa Hannick. “The Low Pay Commission’s recommendation of an 80-cent increase to €11.30 per hour fails to take...

The SIPTU Workers Rights Centre (WRC) secured an award for a hospitality worker who was dismissed from her job at a busy bar and restaurant in county Galway after she requested time off over the Christmas period. SIPTU WRC Advocate, Shonagh Byrne, said:...

SIPTU representatives have criticised the management of Galway University Hospital for its failure to fully utilise Health Care Assistants (HCAs) in the provision of direct patient care in its temporary emergency department during a period of intense pressure in the...

Workers temporarily transferred to the UK by the construction company, Roadbridge, who lost their jobs when the business went into receivership last year, have won a significant increase in their redundancy payments at the Workplace Relations...

SIPTU members employed at the Nuremore Hotel in Carrickmacross, county Monaghan, who have been placed on lay off since the 1st January, are demanding the payment of their outstanding wages and clarification on the future of their workplace. SIPTU...

SIPTU representatives have called for an increase in funding for the fire emergency service in conjunction with the €2.5 billion which is to be spent on addressing defects in houses in order to increase home safety. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Brendan...

SIPTU representatives have written today (Tuesday, 24th January) to the Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler, and the management of the HSE requesting an urgent meeting to discuss safe staffing levels in Child and...

SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Gerry McCormack, told a large crowd at a protest over the overcrowding in the Accident and Emergency Department of Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan, county Meath, on Saturday, 21st January, that any...

Irish Equity hosted an online discussion on ‘Contracts, Your Rights and the EU Copyright Directive’ on 11th January which focused on how greater protection can be secured for the intellectual property rights of film workers in Ireland.  In...

SIPTU representatives have called for the intervention of the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, to ensure that eligible health workers employed in private employments and Section 39 organisations receive...

SIPTU representatives have written to the management of the Eist Linn Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) inpatient unit regarding serious staffing issues at its facility in Bessborough, Blackrock, county Cork.  SIPTU...

SIPTU members in the Retained Fire Service across the country have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action, up to and including strike action, in a dispute resulting from a failure by management to address a worsening recruitment and retention...

SIPTU representatives have raised concerns about the challenges facing its members employed in the National Ambulance Service (NAS) due to an increase in demand for its services that has pushed many paramedics to “breaking point”. SIPTU Sector...

The management of Go-Ahead Ireland has agreed to attend conciliation talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) following an overwhelming vote for industrial action by SIPTU members employed by the private bus operator in a dispute over pay. SIPTU...

SIPTU members employed by private bus operator, Go-Ahead Ireland, will commence a ballot for industrial action tomorrow (Tuesday, 20th December). The dispute is in response to the refusal by the company to attend the Workplace Relations Commission...

The planned strike action by SIPTU members employed Zenith Bantry Bay Terminal, county Cork, has been deferred in order to allow workers an opportunity to consider proposals put forward by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) today. SIPTU Sector...

SIPTU members who worked at Rehab Enterprises in, Raheen, county Limerick, have expressed their deep frustration at the delay by the Rehab Group in implementing a Labour Court recommendation that they should be paid outstanding redundancy payments....

Irish woman and former Irish Congress of Trade Unions official, Esther Lynch has been elected General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). ICTU General Secretary, Owen Reidy, has warmly congratulated Esther Lynch following the...

A recent government announcement that 1,000 General Employment permits will be made available for home care workers from January 2023 will not address the core issues of recruitment and retention of carers in the home care sector, according to SIPTU...

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has welcomed new laws governing the practice of tipping to hospitality workers that have come into force today. Under the Payment of Wages Act employees now have a legal entitlement to receive tips and gratuities paid in electronic...

SIPTU members have today (Monday, 28th November) served notice of strike action at Zenith Energy Bantry Bay Terminals Limited, located on Whiddy Island, county Cork, to commence on Tuesday, 13th December, in a dispute concerning...

SIPTU members employed as bus drivers with Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann handed in a letter at the offices of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in Dublin, today (Thursday, 24th November), calling for an urgent meeting to discuss...

A SIPTU member secured an award of more than €40,000 at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) following his unfair dismissal by his employer, McGuire Haulage Limited, with a head office in Thomastown, county...

Delegates attending a meeting of the Meath Trades Council in Navan on Tuesday (22nd November) called on people to attend the Raise the Roof march in Dublin on Saturday, 26thNovember, and voted to back the Keep Water Public campaign for a referendum to...

SIPTU representatives have called on the Rehab Group to honour a Labour Court recommendation that states that it should pay outstanding redundancy payments due to 38 workers formerly employed by one of its subsidiaries in county Limerick who lost their jobs in 2021....

SIPTU activists are focused on bringing community services back under public control as part of a global shift away from the privatisation model, the SIPTU Public Administration and Community Division Biennial Delegate conference has heard. Addressing the more...

The unions which make up the ICTU Congress Construction Industrial Committee (CIC) will commence lodging claims with employers in the construction sector for improvements in pay to restore the living standards of workers in the sector. Workers in the sector received a...

SIPTU members working for Shannon Heritage protested at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park on Friday, 28th October, to highlight the continued failure of the Government to announce the funding required to facilitate the transfer of Shannon Heritage tourism...

A coalition of trade unions today (Thursday 27th October) launched the ‘Keep Water Public’ campaign, which calls on the Government to confirm a date for a constitutional referendum on the public ownership of water services. The campaign is supported...

Full implementation of the Sláintecare policy is essential for the effective reform of our health and social care services, Social Democrats co-leader, Róisín Shortall, told the SIPTU Health Division Biennial Delegate Conference...

Funding for the public sector faces a 5% cut in real terms by 2025, which will result in a decline in services, SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, John King, told the SIPTU Health Division Biennial Delegate Conference in Waterford today...

The SIPTU Workers Rights Centre secured an award of €18,000, at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), for a member who was dismissed by a private parking company because he needed time off following shoulder surgery. SIPTU Workers Rights...

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and SIPTU have said the sudden decision to close Clifden District Hospital is shocking and emergency engagement is needed with staff and representatives through the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. INMO...

SIPTU worker representatives met with the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, this morning (Friday, 21st October) to demand that the Covid-19 recognition payment is paid to frontline healthcare workers employed by contract companies. The Minister...

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has awarded compensation to a SIPTU member employed by Prenco Manufacturing Limited in Skibbereen, County Cork, after he was forced to retire at 65 years of age when he was in a position to continue working. SIPTU...

SIPTU members in Clifden District Hospital and St. Anne’s Community Nursing Unit in Clifden, county Galway, are to ballot on industrial action in a dispute resulting from unilateral changes to their conditions of employment including their sick leave...

SIPTU representatives have said that workers paid the minimum wage are seeing their wages fall further behind the level which is adequate to even maintain a basic standard of living following the announcement of a new Living Wage level of €13.85 per hour. SIPTU...

SIPTU representatives have called for the pay rates of Early Years professionals to keep pace with the Living Wage following the announcement today (Thursday, 20th October) that it is to increase by 95 cents per hour. SIPTU Head of Organising, Darragh...

SIPTU representatives have said that a Department of Health report on the recruitment and retention crisis for home carers and nursing home healthcare assistants will do little to resolve a problem which is threatening services across the country. SIPTU Sector...

SIPTU representatives have called on the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities to respect the right of its staff to union representation for the purposes of collective bargaining and to end attempts to unilaterally cut their terms of employment. SIPTU...

Employers should utilise a rise in the tax free limit for once off voucher payments announced in the recent Budget to provide workers with €1000 to help offset the rising cost of living, according to SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Gerry McCormack....

SIPTU representatives have expressed opposition to the proposed introduction of a concrete block levy saying that it will negatively impact on construction sector jobs in Ireland. SIPTU Sector Organiser, John Regan, said: “Since the announcement of a...

SIPTU representatives have expressed opposition to the proposed introduction of a concrete block levy saying that it will negatively impact on construction sector jobs in Ireland. SIPTU Sector Organiser, John Regan, said: “Since the announcement of a...

SIPTU representatives have written to politicians in Cork to highlight the continued failure of medical devices manufacturer, DePuy Synthes, to respect the right of its workers to be represented by a union and their dissatisfaction with the arbitrary...

SIPTU representatives have called for clarity from the Government concerning the funding of pay increases for workers employed by independent organisations which provide care and community services on behalf of the State. SIPTU Public Administration and Community...

The Public Services Committee of the ICTU has today (Friday, 7th October) formally ratified the decision by members of SIPTU and other unions to vote in favour of accepting the terms of the revised pay proposals in the ‘Public Service Agreement: Building...

SIPTU members in the public service have voted by a resounding majority to accept the pay proposals in the review of the ‘Public Service Agreement: Building Momentum’. Following a count of ballots today (Thursday, 6th October), 90% of votes...

The objection of employers group, IBEC, to the introduction of a specific category of paid leave for workers who are the victims of domestic violence has been strongly condemned by SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Ethel Buckley. Addressing the SIPTU...

SIPTU representatives will authorise industrial action in order to secure adequate pay rises across the private sector delegates were told today (Wednesday, 5thOctober), at the union’s Services Division Biennial Delegate Conference in Kilkenny....

SIPTU members have condemned the failure of the Government to include in Budget 2023 the funding required to facilitate the transfer of tourism sites currently managed by Shannon Heritage to Clare County Council. SIPTU Organiser, Rachel Keane, said:...

The Government is taking a huge gamble on energy prices in Budget 2023 through large credit payments to companies in order to provide relief to households and businesses, according to SIPTU Researcher, Michael Taft. “The Government’s failure to...

SIPTU representatives are seeking an urgent meeting with the construction company, John Sisk and Son, to seek clarification on the workers who will be included in a once off €1,000 cost of living payment which it announced today (Tuesday,...

SIPTU worker representatives employed by the daa in Dublin Airport have declared no confidence in their management and have begun preparations for balloting union members for industrial action in a dispute over the repeated failure to pay staff wages on time. SIPTU...

Hundreds of SIPTU members in the community and care sector will take strike action over the next three days (Wednesday, 21st to Friday, 22nd September) in more than 20 organisations in counties Cork, Kerry, Galway, Mayo and Donegal....

The Government is intent on provoking more strikes in care and community organisations as it seeks to ignore three days of industrial action in the sector this week as part of the Valuing Care, Valuing Community campaign and with more workers demanding to join...

Hundreds of community and care sector workers will be forced on to picket lines this week because of the complete failure of the Government to engage with them on their reasonable request for a first pay rise in 14 years, according to SIPTU Public Administration...

SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Ethel Buckley, has welcomed the Government’s decision to retain the pension age at 66. Ms Buckley said that the proposal to allow workers to remain in employment until they reach 70, while allowing those in...

Staff in thirteen community organisations in county Donegal will strike on Thursday, 22nd September, as part of the Valuing Care, Valuing Community campaign to highlight the demand for a first pay rise in 14 years for workers in the sector. The...

Staff in Ability West in county Galway will strike on Thursday, 22nd September, as part of the Valuing Care, Valuing Community campaign to highlight the demand for a first pay rise in 14 years for workers in the organisation. SIPTU Organiser,...

SIPTU has called on the Government to extend the terms of the public service pay deal to workers in the community sector and Section 39 organisations who have not received a pay rise since 2008. SIPTU Public Administration and Community Division Organiser,...

Staff in the Western Care Association in county Mayo will strike on Thursday, 22nd September, as part of the Valuing Care, Valuing Community campaign to highlight the demand for a first pay rise in 14 years for workers in the sector. Western Care...

Meath County Council unanimously endorsed a motion in support of the Valuing Care, Valuing Community campaign for pay justice for workers in Section 39 and community sector organisations at its meeting in Navan on Monday, 5th September. The motion in...

Irish Equity and the Musicians Union of Ireland (MUI) have welcomed the awarding of 2,000 grants for artists and creative arts workers through the new Basic Income for the Arts Pilot Scheme, which were announced today (Thursday, 8th September). Irish...

A group of the country’s main private sector unions have supported the call by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, in its pre-budget submission, for a significant rise in the minimum wage. Connect, CWU, FSU, SIPTU and Unite have...

SIPTU members working in early childhood care and education have welcomed the establishment of an Employment Regulation Order (ERO) that sets minimum pay rates for the sector, which was signed off by the Government today (Wednesday, 7th September). The pay...

Irish Equity, the union which represents professionals in the live performance and theatre sector, has called for reform of film industry tax breaks in Budget 2023 to ensure a fair return for taxpayers and greater protection of the interests of all those...

Unions representing staff in Local Employment Services (LES) and Jobs Clubs have condemned the treatment of workers who provide vital community services and who have been made redundant in Dublin due to a controversial new tendering process. Fórsa Assistant...

SIPTU representatives have called on the Government to set a date for a referendum on the public ownership of water services to ensure against any future privatisation of the national utility. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Brendan O’Brien, said: “It...

SIPTU representatives have called on the Government to immediately act to ensure that the terms of an Employment Regulation Order (ERO) for the security industry are honoured following an injunction being secured yesterday (Wednesday, 24th August) by a small...

A survey of more than 1,977 managers and staff in the Early Years (childcare) sector has indicated that many services may be restricted or face potential closure due to an inability to recruit and retain staff. The Early Years Staffing Survey, which is...

SIPTU members employed by De La Salle College, Waterford are to ballot for industrial and strike action and strike following a decision by management to unilaterally outsource their employment to a private sector provider. SIPTU Organiser, Con Casey,...

SIPTU general secretary, Joe Cunningham, today gave a donation on behalf of his members to Mick Lynch, the leader of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) in a gesture of solidarity with striking rail workers in the...

SIPTU members employed by Kyte Powertech in Cavan will begin a campaign of strike and industrial action due to a pay dispute, with a 24 -hour work stoppage commencing at 12.01 a.m. (midnight) on Friday, 19th August. SIPTU Organiser, Martin...

Members of the SIPTU Meath District Council met with the General Manager of Our Lady’s Hospital, Anita Brennan, to discuss the threat to the future of the Accident and Emergency Department at the facility in Navan, county Meath, on...

SIPTU organisers in the public service representing members in the Health, Local Authority, Education and State sectors, are today commencing a consultation exercise with its members in advance of ballots for industrial action over pay later in...

SIPTU members employed by local authorities across the country are preparing to ballot for industrial action as a result of the failure of the Government to conclude a deal on public sector pay that takes account of the increasing cost of living and high inflation...

SIPTU members across the public service will commence a consultation exercise in advance of ballots for industrial action over the failure of the Government to conclude an acceptable review of the pay provisions of the ‘Building Momentum’ Public Service...

SIPTU representatives have engaged with the Department of Social Protection concerning the delay in processing payments to workers made redundant by the civil engineering and construction firm, Roadbridge, after it was placed in receivership. SIPTU Sector...

Workers in the care, community and voluntary sector will escalate their campaign of industrial action to secure a first pay rise in 14 years after the Government failed to engage with their unions following strikes in selected workplaces earlier this month....

SIPTU members in the care and community sector have committed to escalating their campaign of industrial action following a successful first wave of strikes this week which saw hundreds of workers join picket lines and attend protests across the country. SIPTU Public...

SIPTU members will hold protests in Dublin, Galway and Waterford tomorrow (Wednesday, 6th July) to mark the second day of strike action by care and community sector workers in a long running dispute in which they are seeking their first pay rise in 14...