News Archive

SIPTU has welcomed an increase of €69 million in investment targeted at improving the conditions of workers in the childcare and Early Years education sector announced, today (Tuesday 12th October), by the Government as part of Budget 2022. SIPTU is...

SIPTU General Secretary, Joe Cunningham, has said that the report of the Pensions Commission has vindicated the union’s campaign against the increase in the state pension age to 67 years from 1st January, 2021. However, he said that if...

Research into the low pay crisis in Ireland has revealed that one out of every five, or approximately 370,000, employees are earning less than €12.00 an hour. The report entitled ‘Low Pay Republic’, and compiled by SIPTU...

SIPTU representatives will tell the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, today (Tuesday, 5th October) that the pay crisis for childcare professionals, if not adequately addressed in...

SIPTU members are outraged at the prospect that the historic sites operated by Shannon Heritage may close on 1st January 2022, as was implied at an internal webinar for employees yesterday (Thursday, 30th September). SIPTU members have campaigned since...

SIPTU has said that the rise in the Living Wage, which provides for a minimal and socially acceptable standard of living, to €12.90 per hour, confirms the urgent need to give workers the right to collective bargaining. Announcing the...

SIPTU and Fórsa representatives will attend a meeting with the Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection today (Wednesday, 29th September) to discuss the growing crisis in local employment services and jobs clubs. It is expected that union...

Unions representing thousands of water workers in local authorities have today (Friday, 24th September) roundly rejected Irish Water’s claims that recent service shortcomings in Dublin and Wexford occurred because of the lack of a single national water...

SIPTU members employed by Aer Lingus in ground operations at Dublin airport have voted by 82% to reject proposals by the company to reduce costs and change work practices in order to offset losses incurred by the airline due to the Covid-19 pandemic. SIPTU Sector...

SIPTU representatives have welcomed the announcement, today (Tuesday, 21st September), that the Government will make a special payment to workers made redundant who lost reckonable service due to being laid off or put on short-time work during the...

SIPTU members employed in Local Employment Services (LES) and Job Clubs in Galway met with the Labour Party leader, Alan Kelly, and Labour Galway County Councillor, Níall Mc Nelis, on Friday (10th September), to discuss the...

SIPTU representatives have marked International Disability Awareness Day (Sunday, 12th September) to remind workers of the strong legal protections that have been secured to prevent discrimination in the workplace, due to a worker’s permanent or...

SIPTU members working in Local Employment Services (LES) and Job Clubs, will stage a protest outside the opening of the ‘think-in’ of the Fine Gael parliamentary party in Trim Castle, county Meath, on Monday, 13th September at 9.00...

A survey of more than 3,000 managers and staff in the childcare sector has indicated that many facilities face reducing services or potential closure over the coming months due to an inability to recruit the necessary qualified professionals required to run...

SIPTU and Fórsa members, working in Local Employment Services (LES) and Job Clubs, have today (Monday, 6th September) delivered a letter to the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, calling on him to immediately intervene and save the...

SIPTU and the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) have voiced serious concerns for their members health and safety with the return to 100% passenger capacity on public transport which was implemented today (Wednesday, 1st September). NBRU General Secretary,...

SIPTU and Fórsa members, working in Local Employment Services (LES) and Job Clubs, have today (Wednesday, 1st September) announced the details of a national day of protest, including an action outside the Department of the...

SIPTU representatives will meet with management from News UK & Ireland tomorrow (Wednesday, 1st September) following an announcement by the company that it intends to close its printing plant in Kells, county Meath. SIPTU Organiser, Teresa...

SIPTU representatives have welcomed an agreement that footballers representing Ireland at international level will be paid equally while calling for more action by sports authorities to end the continuing gender pay gap and encourage greater participation by women....

SIPTU representatives have written to the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, seeking a meeting to discuss the return of the Education and Outreach programme run by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) following a decision to...

Fine Gael Galway East TD, Ciaran Cannon, has endorsed the SIPTU call for action to alleviate the staffing crisis in Early Years services following a meeting with local union representatives and activists involved in the Big Start campaign. At the meeting...

SIPTU members, working in local employment services (LES) and Job Clubs, have voted in favour of industrial action which will commence with protests at locations across the country on Monday, 6th September. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Peter...

The Executive of Irish Equity have expressed surprise and disappointment at the exclusion of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, from the Cabinet sub-committee on Covid-19. At a...

SIPTU representatives have called for a review of the rates of pay and the duties of Health Care Assistants (HCAs) in response to a shortage of staff in the sector, rather than seeking to recruit workers from outside the European Economic Area to fulfil these...

SIPTU members at the biopharmaceutical company, AbbVie, in Carrigtwohill, county Cork, are considering an escalation in their industrial action in a dispute resulting from the refusal of management to engage with representatives of the...

Talks were held at the Workplace Relations Commission on Thursday 5th August, but HSE representatives had no offer to make. Health service unions, including SIPTU, have strongly criticised the HSE for a lack of “tangible recognition” for...

SIPTU members working in the Housing Department of South Dublin County Council have staged a one-day work stoppage today (Wednesday, 4th August) to highlight the failure of management to honour agreements on staffing levels. As part of the industrial action the...

SIPTU members working as care assistants and social care workers in St Brigid’s Mental Health Intellectual Disability services in Ballinasloe, county Galway, have today (Friday, 30th July) voted overwhelmingly for industrial action up to and...

SIPTU members, working in Local Employment Services (LES) and Job Clubs, have today (Friday, 30th July) announced a series of strike actions across the country. SIPTU Public Administration and Community Division...

The marketisation of the community sector will seriously damage the provision of employment services, a webinar organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has been told. “The webinar hosted by the ICTU yesterday (Tuesday, 27th July),...

SIPTU members, working in local employment services (LES) and job clubs, are set to announce this Friday (30th, July) a series of strike actions across the country. The news comes following the decision by existing job clubs in the Midlands not to...

SIPTU members, working in local employment services (LES) and job clubs, are set to announce this Friday (30th, July) a series of strike actions across the country. The news comes following the decision by existing job clubs in the North West and...

SIPTU members working as assistants and care workers in St Brigid’s Mental Health Intellectual Disability services in Ballinasloe, county Galway, are to ballot for strike action next week. SIPTU Organiser, Liz Cloherty, said: “SIPTU...

SIPTU and Fórsa members, working in local employment services, will stage a socially distanced protest outside Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, constituency office, Mall Road, Monaghan Town, county...

SIPTU members in the Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) have highlighted the crisis situation in the service today (Friday, 16th July) due to a lack of trained firefighters resulting in several vehicles being unavailable for deployment. SIPTU DFB Convenor, Shane...

SIPTU representatives have today (Wednesday, 14th July) said that ‘blended working’ arrangements should be made available, where possible, to workers throughout the public service and state sector. The call follows the publication by the...

SIPTU representatives have today (Wednesday, 14th July) said that ‘blended working’ arrangements should be made available, where possible, to workers throughout the public service and state sector. The call follows the publication by the...

SIPTU members employed by Doyle Shipping Group (DSG) at Dublin Port have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action in a dispute concerning their pay, terms and conditions of employment and safety concerns within their workplace. SIPTU Organiser,...

SIPTU members, working in local employment services, will stage a socially distanced protest outside the Department of Social Protection to highlight their opposition to plans to privatise these essential community services on Friday, 9th July at...

SIPTU, together with a coalition of eleven Early Years and civil society organisations, has today (Thursday, 8th July) launched the ‘New Deal for Early Years’ campaign for the reform of the childcare sector so it can provide improved...

The SIPTU Big Start campaign together with a coalition of eleven other Early Years and civil society organisations will launch a set of proposals for the reform of childcare services in Ireland which would lead to an improved sector for children, families,...

The SIPTU National Executive Council (NEC) has endorsed the proposals by the Moore Street Preservation Trust for the protection of the 1916 battlefield site in Dublin city. SIPTU General Secretary, Joe Cunningham said: “On behalf of the National Executive...

The Stop67 campaign to halt any increase in the State pension age is holding a series of ‘Bridge the Gap’ (between retirement at 65 years and the State pension age of 66) photo opportunities with candidates in the Dublin South Bay by-election on...

SIPTU representatives have called on the Government to accept that voters prioritise public services over tax cuts as demonstrated in an opinion poll published on Sunday (27th June) by the Sunday Business Post. SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, John King,...

Candidates from all the major parties in the Dublin Bay South by-election said that childcare services are a major issue in the election and increased investment in the sector was needed, at a hustings hosted by the SIPTU Big Start campaign yesterday...

SIPTU has called for people to reflect on the need for well-funded and dynamic public services which has been starkly illustrated by their response to the Covid-19 pandemic. SIPTU Deputy General Secretary for the Public Service, John King, said:...

SIPTU Big Start campaign representatives have said that the announcement today (Monday, 21st June) that a Joint Labour Committee (JLC) for the Early Years sector is to come into effect on Thursday, 1st July, is good news for workers, families...

SIPTU representatives have welcomed the judgement of the Supreme Court today (Friday, 18th June) which confirms that the legislation underpinning the Sectoral Employment Order (SEO) structure is constitutional. SIPTU TEAC Division Organiser, Karan O...

SIPTU representatives are seeking an urgent meeting with the HSE and management of the Camphill community at Duffcarrig, in Gorey, county Wexford following the decision by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to cancel the registration of...

SIPTU Big Start Campaign representatives have said that the Early Years Sector Profile Report by the State funding agency POBAL, which was published today (Tuesday, 15th June), has revealed that low pay is continuing to force childcare professionals...

SIPTU has supported the call for 100% compensation for homeowners affected by the mica homes scandal in advance of a protest in Dublin tomorrow (Tuesday, 15th June) by those impacted by the failure to adequately monitor compliance with construction standards....

SIPTU representatives are calling for immediate and significant government action to support the aviation sector following the announcement today (Saturday, 12th June) that Aer Lingus Regional is cancelling all flights. The cancellation follows the ceasing of...

SIPTU members working in the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) have today (Thursday, 10th June) published a ten point plan aimed at providing a clear agenda towards the development of soccer in Ireland at community and high performance levels. Towards 2025 -...

SIPTU representatives have said they will look to build on the proposals contained in the Sick Leave Bill 2021 which was announced by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar, today (Wednesday, 9th June). SIPTU...

SIPTU, Fórsa and Connect trade unions have today (Wednesday 9th June) called for increased powers for local government including the ability to lead renewable energy projects, re-establish control of domestic waste collection and use land for the...

SIPTU representatives have joined with European colleagues in welcoming a final ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ), published yesterday (Thursday, 3rd June), which prohibits the use of temporary work agencies to recruit workers for...

SIPTU has warned that the Economic Recovery Plan, published by the Government yesterday (Tuesday, 1st June), does not establish the foundation for a full economic recovery due to its failure to include workers in key decisions concerning their...

Politicians voiced their opposition to any move towards the privatisation of Local Employment Services (LES) in Mayo and Galway at a virtual meeting hosted by SIPTU representatives yesterday (Thursday 27th May) evening. The meeting was attended by SIPTU members...

SIPTU general secretary, Joe Cunningham, has welcomed the motion calling for an end to the annexation of Palestinian lands by Israel which was passed yesterday in Dáil Eireann. Joe Cunningham said: “The cross-party decision in the Dáil...

SIPTU general secretary, Joe Cunningham, has welcomed the motion calling for an end to the annexation of Palestinian lands by Israel which was passed yesterday in Dáil Eireann. Joe Cunningham said: “The cross-party decision in the Dáil...

The Musicians’ Union of Ireland and SIPTU are presenting a ‘Gig for Gaza’ virtual concert, with performances by leading artists including Andy Irvine, Frances Black and 12 year old Palestinian rapper MC Abdul, at 8.00 p.m. on...

SIPTU representatives have today (Wednesday, 26th May) written to the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, seeking an urgent meeting to discuss concerns about health and safety at ports and docks in Ireland. SIPTU TEAC Division Organiser, Karan...

SIPTU representatives have today (Monday, 24th May) welcomed confirmation from the Department of Health that radiographers, radiation therapists and other certain student health workers can apply to be vaccinators as part of the National Covid-19...

Trade Union Federation (TUF) representatives have reached agreement with Dublin City Council on monitoring the implementation of employment agreements on housing and community project building sites with the aim of eradicating the practice of bogus self-employment....

SIPTU seeks commitments from News UK & Ireland Ltd on future of Kells print plant SIPTU Organiser, Teresa Thompson, said: “Our members employed in the SKNP print business based in Kells have been advised that subject to regulatory approval News...

SIPTU members in ground operations for Aer Lingus in Cork Airport were today (Tuesday, 18th May) informed that the airline intends to place them on temporary layoff, from 12th September to 22nd November, while runway reconstruction is underway. SIPTU...

SIPTU members have expressed their deepest condolences to the family of nineteen-year old, Matthew Grimes, who died while working at Dublin Port on Saturday, 15th May. SIPTU Transport Division Organiser, Karan O Loughlin said: “Our...

A recent survey of student Early Years educators, carried out by the SIPTU Big Start campaign, has found that one third intend to leave the sector, with low pay the main issue forcing them into a change of career or into working abroad. The survey...

The SIPTU Carlow/Kilkenny District Council has called for an end to the inequity in state payments and other supports between workers forced to retire from their employment at 65 years of age and later retirees. SIPTU Carlow/Kilkenny District Council...

SIPTU members in the security industry have expressed outrage at a decision to defer the implementation of pay increases contained in a new Employment Regulation Order (ERO) for the sector until 1st September, 2021. SIPTU Organiser, Brendan Carr,...

SIPTU representatives have today (Tuesday, 27th April) sent an urgent request to Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) seeking an emergency hearing over advanced plans to transfer Greystones Home Help Services to a new “for profit” provider without...

SIPTU representatives have today (Tuesday, 27th April) sent an urgent request to Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) seeking an emergency hearing over advanced plans to transfer Greystones Home Help Services to a new “for profit” provider without...

SIPTU representatives have today (Tuesday, 27th April) sent an urgent request to Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) seeking an emergency hearing over advanced plans to transfer Greystones Home Help Services to a new “for profit” provider without...

SIPTU members at the Kerry Group have called on management to attend at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to seek a resolution to a dispute concerning redundancies. Following an announcement by the Kerry Group in March to outsource 150 jobs to Malaysia and...

Responding to the announcement today, 24th April, of the results of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality, SIPTU members have welcomed its ‘priority recommendation’ on the establishment of a legal right to collective bargaining for...

SIPTU members have called for an urgent meeting with the main contractors on the Intel construction site in county Kildare following a Covid-19 outbreak. SIPTU Divisional Organiser, Karan O Loughlin, said: “Following reports that a significant number...

SIPTU has criticised the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) for making unwarranted threats against a union representative who has spoken out about staff issues. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Martin O’Rourke, said: “Our members in the FAI had hoped...

SIPTU representatives have today (Saturday, 17th April) welcomed an eleventh hour intervention of Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath to settle the long standing Community Employment (CE) supervisors pension dispute. In...

SIPTU representatives have today (Thursday, 15th April) written to the Minister of State with responsibility for Social Inclusion in the Department of Social Protection, Joe O’Brien, seeking a firm commitment to support the campaign to halt...

SIPTU economist, Michael Taft, has said that the projections in the Stability Programme Update (SPU) of continued ‘low-tax, low-spend’ policies by the Government will undermine the future growth prospects of the economy. The SPU was...

SIPTU members are not surprised by detailed revelations in the Irish Mail on Sunday (IMOS) of illegal work practices in the meat processing industry. An investigation published in the newspaper today alleges that some vulnerable workers are forced to secure fake...

In a statement today, the Trade Union Group (TUG) said: “The RTÉ Trade Union Group notes the result of the ballot on the proposed RTÉ/TUG Stability Agreement with 87% against and 13% in favour. The proposals have been overwhelmingly rejected...

SIPTU representatives are today (Wednesday, 7th April) hosting an online political rally at 4.00 p.m. on Facebook about the Union’s concerns in relation to worker rights, safety and pay for delivery and platform workers. At the event,...

SIPTU representatives have today (Wednesday, 7th April) called on the Government to ensure that Early Years educators are treated on the same basis as teachers and other education workers in relation to the vaccine rollout. SIPTU Head of Organising and...

A major manufacturing company based in county Limerick has been found to have made unlawful deductions from the pay of some of its workers by the Workplace Relations Commission. The case, involving 48 SIPTU members, arose following a cut in wages for...

SIPTU members working for the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) have today (Saturday, 3rd April) said they are extremely disappointed and frustrated over the lack of engagement with management over many workplace issues holding back the organisation. SIPTU...

SIPTU representatives have today (Wednesday, 31st March) written to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien to demand that a Covid-19 stakeholder forum for local authorities be established and convened without delay....

SIPTU representatives will today, (Wednesday, 31st March) raise the serious concerns of Early Years Educators over the Government’s new vaccination schedule at a high level meeting with the Department of Children, Equality,...

SIPTU members have expressed anger at the decision by Rehab Enterprises in Limerick to make workers redundant without exploring alternative options at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). SIPTU Organiser, Jim Fuery, said: “We attended two WRC...

SIPTU representatives have today (Friday, 26th March) called on the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, to release the funds necessary to settle the Community Employment supervisors pension dispute without delay or run the...

SIPTU representatives have today (Thursday, 25th March) written to the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, criticising his refusal to meet student radiographers and expressing extreme disappointment over his lack of commitment to address any of...

SIPTU members in the union’s Community Sector have today (Wednesday, 24th March) urged the Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, to reverse plans to privatise community and employment services including the Local Development...

SIPTU and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions have sent an urgent request to the Government in relation to the future of workers who are facing redundancy at Rehab Enterprises in Limerick. SIPTU Organiser, Jim Fuery, said: “SIPTU members and their...

SIPTU representatives have welcomed the decision by OCS Ltd to withdraw notices of compulsory redundancy served on three union members at Cork Airport. SIPTU Organiser, Tony Carroll, said: “We welcome the decision of the company to withdraw its...

SIPTU representatives have today (Friday, 12th March) welcomed a recommendation by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O'Gorman, that a Joint Labour Committee (JLC) for the early...

Members of Irish Equity have today (Friday, 12th March) written to the chairperson of Fine Gael requesting an urgent meeting with the party leadership following media reports that the party has posted a series of ill-judged requests across social media aimed at...

SIPTU members across the Education Sector have today (Thursday, 11th March) said that, unless the crisis in third level funding is addressed, all the problems that have continuously plagued the sector will continue to persist. The calls come...

SIPTU members working in county and city councils across the country have today (Wednesday, 10th March) put the Government on notice that, if water service workers are forcibly transferred into Irish Water, thousands of local authority workers are...

SIPTU has said that increasing the pension age will make no significant contribution to the cost of the State pension scheme. It has also called for a ‘statutory right to remain’ to allow employees to stay in their jobs up to and beyond the pension age and...

The Musicians Union of Ireland (MUI) has welcomed the Government’s announcement of €50 million in measures to support the Live Performance sector. Welcoming the announcement, MUI executive member, Niamh Parsons, said the support was long...