News Archive

The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) and the Trade Union Federation (TUF) today signed a Return to Work Safety Protocol at a Collen Construction site in Haymarket, Dublin. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the site has been closed since 8th January last....

The SIPTU Young Workers’ Network has today (Tuesday 9th, March) made a submission to the Commission on Pensions which calls for the state pension age not to be increased. A survey of over 1,300 young people formed the basis of the submission; it...

A new co-operation agreement has been reached today between DCU, SIPTU and IFUT on collective representational rights on behalf of the members of both unions in the university. The University recognises the positive role played by trade unions within the...

SIPTU representatives have said that the draft EU Directive on pay transparency, published today (Thursday, 4th March), will effectively lock women into a state of permanent pay inequality. SIPTU Deputy General Secretary for Organising and Membership...

SIPTU members working in the Bon Secours Health System are to commence a national ballot for industrial action, up to and including strike action, in an effort to secure a job evaluation process for up to 500 support grade workers. SIPTU Sector...

SIPTU members at Cork airport have criticised the refusal of OCS (Ireland) Ltd. to accept an invitation to attend the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) regarding the decision by the company to make three workers compulsorily redundant. SIPTU Aviation...

SIPTU members in Aer Lingus employed at Shannon Airport are devastated by the news that they will be placed on temporary lay-off for a three month period from 8th March. SIPTU Sector Organiser Neil McGowan said: “This is a devastating blow to the Aer Lingus...

SIPTU has today (Monday, 1st March) signed a recognition agreement with the Irish Management Institute (IMI). The collective agreement affords SIPTU exclusive representational rights on behalf of staff in IMI. The staff in IMI joined SIPTU last year and...

SIPTU members were shocked to hear this morning that Bank of Ireland has announced the closure of 103 branches in its branch network, including 15 in the North and 88 in Republic of Ireland. SIPTU Organiser, Peadar Nolan said: “This has come as a...

SIPTU members in working in Camphill Communities, Duffcarrig, county Wexford have voted unanimously in favour of industrial action in a dispute over funding and working conditions. The first 24-hour stoppage will take place from 8.00 a.m. on Friday,...

UNI Global Union, which represents 2 million care workers worldwide, today said the COVID-19 pandemic has made nursing homes some of the most hazardous—and even deadly—workplaces in the world. In a new report released today—The Most...

SIPTU representatives explained that union members will not accept any attempt to force the transfer from their employment with local authorities to Irish Water, during a meeting today with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage,...

SIPTU members in Ulster Bank, who learned today that it is to close its doors after 160 years of trading, are seeking assurances about their future. SIPTU Organiser, Peadar Nolan said: “SIPTU members in Ulster Bank are deeply disappointed with...

Management commits to address all workforce concerns in comprehensive agreement to end dispute. Any council worker who loses out in the management-trade union led job evaluation process will receive between £500 and £7,500 in compensation. Trade...

SIPTU members in Rehab Enterprises in Limerick have been informed that they face redundancy on significantly reduced terms, after decades of service. SIPTU Organiser, Jim Fuery, said: “Our members in Rehab Enterprises in Limerick have been...

SIPTU members in the public service have voted by a resounding majority to accept the proposals in Building Momentum, a New Public Service Agreement. Following a count of ballots in Liberty Hall today (Thursday, 11th February), 91% of votes were in...

SIPTU members were incensed by the omission of SIPTU Health representatives from the Oireachtas Health Committee today (Tuesday, 9th February) where the situation of Covid-19 frontline health workers was discussed and debated. SIPTU Health Division...

SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Gerry McCormack, has criticised the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar, for co-signing a letter which undermines the right of workers in Ireland to collective...

SIPTU members have expressed their deep disappointment at the introduction of a new benefit payment for people forced to retire at 65. According to SIPTU researcher, Michael Taft, the payment does not provide an adequate income for those forced to leave...

SIPTU representatives have today (Friday, 5th February) written to the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, seeking an emergency meeting in order to address serious concerns and challenges raised by student radiographers on clinical placement...

Early Years Educators, providers and parents will take part in a Virtual Day of Action on Friday, 5th February, 2021 to highlight the ongoing crisis of low pay and funding in the early years, childcare sector. The Day of Action, organised...

SIPTU members at Wilker Auto Conversions in Clara Co. Offlay, have expressed their shock and concern at the announcement of a three week shut-down of the production plant in Clara, county Offaly. The shut-down, from Friday, 12th February...

The RTÉ Trade Union Group (TUG) has today (Wednesday, 3rd February) concluded negotiations on proposed temporary alterations to terms and conditions of employment. The proposals include changes to benefits, including pay reductions and a voluntary...

SIPTU representatives and nursing unions were informed tonight (Thursday, 28th January) that clinical placements for first, second and third year student nurses and midwives are to be suspended until at least Monday 8th February and are likely return on a...

The annual SIPTU Early Years Professionals’ survey has found that 43% of child care workers are actively seeking another job due to low pay levels in the sector. The findings also show that 90% of workers struggle to make ends meet, 77% have no work sick...

SIPTU representatives have today (26th, January) demanded that the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, commits to publishing regular progress reports of the Covid-19 vaccine sequencing programme across the health service. SIPTU Health Divisional...

Following reports of two more significant Covid-19 clusters in Cork and Wexford, with more than 100 workers testing positive for the virus, SIPTU Manufacturing Division Organiser, Greg Ennis, has called on the Government to act immediately on...

SIPTU representatives have today (Friday 22nd, January) expressed grave concerns for the future of the childcare sector as thousands of Early Years Educators are forced to draw down the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). The concerns were expressed following...

SIPTU representatives have labelled an offer of a €50,000 prize by Dublin City Council for ‘innovative solutions’ for on street storage of domestic waste as a gimmick and a waste of public funds. SIPTU Public Administration and Community...

SIPTU representatives have today (Sunday, 17th January) said the lack of consultation surrounding the decision by health minister, Stephen Donnelly, to suspend student placements will only deepen the serious crisis in the health service. SIPTU Health...

SIPTU Health representatives have today (Friday, 15th January) said the Covid-19 infection rates of health care workers are unsustainable and putting the safe functioning of the health service in grave danger. SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Kevin...

SIPTU representatives have called on the Government to intervene in order to save the Waterford Area Partnership (WAP) following the publication of a report earlier this week which suggested that the organisation was “not viable” due to governance and...

SIPTU representatives have called on the Government to intervene in order to save the Waterford Area Partnership (WAP) following the publication of a report earlier this week which suggested that the organisation was “not viable” due to governance and...

SIPTU representatives have called on all employers, in both the private and public sector, to listen to the advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) for Covid-19, and ensure that wherever possible they should facilitate employees...

SIPTU representatives have expressed concern that issues of bed capacity and overcrowding in hospital emergency departments (EDs) will continue to affect the work of the National Ambulance Service. They have called on the HSE to immediately fast track the recruitment...

SIPTU representatives have today (Friday, 8th January) urged the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, to immediately intervene and remove any roadblocks to health service recruitment as part of an emergency effort to address the unsustainable...

SIPTU representatives have today (Friday, 8th January) called on the Government to strictly limit childcare services to only the families of essential frontline workers and the most vulnerable children. Head of Strategic Organising, Darragh...

SIPTU representatives in the construction sector are demanding that the Government guarantees that all construction sites which remain open during the current lockdown have all proper protections in place to prevent the transmission of Covid-19 among construction...

SIPTU representatives have today (Thursday, 7th January) written to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Affairs, Roderic O’Gorman, reiterating the demand of our members working as Early Years...

The Trade Union Federation (TUF) and the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), today (Tuesday, 5th January) have jointly called on employers and workers in the sector to intensify their efforts to prevent Covid-19 infections on building sites. SIPTU...

Industrial action escalates at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council as mediated talks collapse after management refuse trade union proposal to end dispute All four staff trade unions, Unite, GMB, NIPSA and SIPTU, warn work-to-rule will...

SIPTU representatives have called for more support for student nurses and midwives than the recommendations outlined in a Short Term Review of Clinical Placement Allowances published yesterday (Monday, 4th January) by the Department of Health. SIPTU...

SIPTU representatives have called on the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) to reassess the risk to workers and children in childcare services in light of the new Covid-19 strains and spiralling infection rates. Following a meeting of the SIPTU Early Years...

SIPTU representatives have called on the management of the Health Service Executive (HSE) to fast track the recruitment of thousands of additional staff as a matter of urgency in the fight against COVID-19. SIPTU Health Divisional Organiser, Kevin Figgis,...

SIPTU Health representatives have today (Saturday, 2nd January) called on the management of the Health Service Executive (HSE) to guarantee proper supports are immediately put in place to assist health workers with childcare commitments reporting for work when...

SIPTU representatives have today (Thursday, 31st December) demanded that equal treatment is applied to all educators under new Level 5 restrictions. Speaking following the announcement of the move, SIPTU Head of Organising Darragh O’Connor said:...

The National Executive Council (NEC) of SIPTU met today (Thursday, 17th December) to consider the proposals for an agreement on pay and related matters in the public service. Having considered the details of the proposals it was decided to recommend them for...

Members of all four staff trade unions, Unite, GMB, NIPSA and SIPTU, will commence work-to-rule from January 4th, second 24-hour strike date confirmed for January 27th. Councillors warned that work-to-rule will result in severe disruption...

Representatives of public service unions and employers have agreed proposals for a two-year agreement to succeed the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA), which expires at the end of this month. The main elements of the proposed agreement were outlined by...

SIPTU members have welcomed a new hourly rate of €11.20 and an Employment Regulation Order (ERO) for contract cleaners. The 40 cent increase was confirmed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and will be delivered to workers when the...

SIPTU representatives have today (Thursday, 10th December) confirmed that unions have made a significant breakthrough on pay restoration for members in 250 State-funded voluntary health and social service providers. The positive development for workers in these...

SIPTU members have welcomed the recommendations contained in the recently published Report of the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce, ‘A Life Worth Living’, which can assist the sector to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 crisis. SIPTU...

SIPTU has today (Thursday, 10th December) accepted an invitation from the Minister for Children, Equality Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O'Gorman, to discuss pay and conditions for childcare workers with him and the...

The STOP67 campaign has welcomed the removal of the pension age increase to 67 years on 1st January next in the Social Welfare Bill which will be debated in the Dáil today (9th December, 2020). The campaign, which helped to make the pension age...

SIPTU representatives have today (7th December) confirmed that proposals for a new collective agreement for live action film and television crew have been accepted in a ballot of union members. SIPTU Divisional Organiser, Karan O Loughlin,...

Members of all four staff trade unions, Unite, GMB, NIPSA and SIPTU, forced into picket lines from 6am tomorrow [Thursday, December 3rd] In a joint trade union side statement and ahead of the industrial action, workforce...

SIPTU representatives have said that the decision to keep third level lectures online for the rest of the academic year provides certainty for staff and students. SIPTU Education Sector Organiser, Karl Byrne, said: “We welcome the certainty being...

SIPTU representatives have confirmed the start of a nation-wide campaign of industrial action by members in Section 39 organisations resulting from a dispute involving the failure of the HSE to honour an agreement to restore the pay of these workers. SIPTU Public...

SIPTU representatives have called on the Government to immediately introduce key changes relating to workplace safety in the meat processing industry following the publication of new report revealing a “systemic culture” of dangerous working conditions in...

All four staff trade unions, Unite, GMB, NIPSA and SIPTU, agree first twenty-four hour action to defend pay and conditions In a joint trade union side statement, workforce representatives laid the blame for the ‘regrettable’...

SIPTU members in CoAction and South Doc, which are HSE funded services based in county Cork and Kerry, have voted in favour of industrial action as part of a country-wide campaign for pay restoration by workers in Section 39 organisations. SIPTU Public...

SIPTU has published research today (Wednesday, 18th November), which indicates that workers employed in the Early Years sector in Ireland are paid far less than their counterparts in other countries. SIPTU Head of Organising, Darragh...

Irish Equity has welcomed the proposal to introduce a basic income scheme for workers in the Arts sector. The scheme is among a range of supports for artists and performers which are proposed in the report of the Arts and Culture Recovery Task Force and which was...

SIPTU representatives are seeking the redeployment by Rehab Enterprises of workers employed by Smiles Newsagents who have been informed that they will lose their jobs by the end of the year. SIPTU Organiser, Jim Fuery, said: “Staff in the Smiles...

SIPTU representatives are seeking an urgent meeting with management at Valeo Vision Systems in Tuam, county Galway, following a decision by the company to make 60 staff redundant. SIPTU Organiser, Pat Flannery, said: “Our members have...

SIPTU representatives have written, to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderick O’Gorman, to call for greater protections from Covid-19 infection for childcare professionals. SIPTU Head...

The STOP67 coalition has expressed its disappointment at the failure of the Government to appoint enough members to the Pension Commission who reflect the interests of those most affected by the proposed pension age increase and in particular organisations...

SIPTU representatives have called on the Government to provide immediate assistance to aviation workers in regional airports following the announcement by Ryanair, today (Wednesday, 28th October), that it intends to cancel all flights from...

SIPTU representatives have called for an urgent meeting with the management of the HSE following the shocking revelation that patients and staff have, for several months, been using an unsafe hand sanitiser at health facilities across the country. SIPTU...

SIPTU representatives have today (Wednesday, 21st October) called on the management of Odeon Cinemas to enter into negotiations with its members concerning a proposed restructuring of the entertainment company due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. SIPTU...

SIPTU members employed at the car parts manufacturer, BorgWarner in Tralee, county Kerry, have today (Tuesday, 20th October) voted to accept improved redundancy terms. SIPTU Organiser, Joe Kelly, said: “Our members have voted...

SIPTU representatives have today (Tuesday, 20th October) demanded that the Government and employers take immediate action to ensure that workers in the childcare sector are provided with adequate protection from Covid-19 infection. SIPTU Head of...

SIPTU representatives have called for improved working conditions in childcare services in order to reduce the level of Covid-19 infections occurring in these facilities which a HSE survey has found to be running at twice the level of primary and secondary schools....

SIPTU members in Premier Periclase Ltd in Drogheda, county Louth, have today (Friday, 16th October) voted to accept proposals contained in a Labour Court recommendation and bring to an end a long running strike at the magnesium production plant....

SIPTU representatives have said that the measures for funding further and higher education announced in Budget 2021 yesterday (Tuesday, 13th October), deal with short term issues related to the Covid-19 crisis but not the long-term funding of the sector....

SIPTU representatives have said that the additional €1 billion investment in public transport announced in Budget 2021 will not be sufficient to deal with the massive impact of the Covid-19 crisis on oil services. SIPTU Sector Organiser, John Murphy,...

SIPTU Aviation Sector Organiser, Neil McGowan, said: “Workers in the aviation industry across the country have suffered a huge loss of employment and a devastating decrease in working hours and earnings due to the collapse in passenger numbers as a...

Irish Equity has said that Budget 2021 does not provide enough support for artists, theatre and entertainment workers. Karan O Loughlin, Irish Equity Organiser, said: “While the announcement by Arts minister, Catherine Martin, of...

SIPTU representatives have said that Budget 2021 has failed to address the crisis of low pay for workers and high fees for families in the childcare sector. SIPTU Head of Organising, Darragh O’Connor, said: “Low pay for workers in the childcare...

SIPTU has called for the increased funding in Budget 2021 to assist the sectors worst hit by the Covid-19 pandemic to be linked to reforms to ensure improved working conditions and an equitable recovery. SIPTU General Secretary, Joe Cunningham said: “While...

SIPTU has joined with unions across Europe to call on the negotiators of a new EU and UK free trade agreement to prioritise the interests of working people and ensure the maintenance of employment. SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Gerry McCormack, said:...

SIPTU representatives have called for the faster implementation of the recommendations of the Oireachtas Special Committee on the Covid-19 Response in relation to the meat industry, which were released today (Friday, 9th October). SIPTU Manufacturing...

The STOP67 campaign played a major role in the decision of the Government to defer the proposed increase in the pension age to 67 years. The campaign includes SIPTU, the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NCWI), Age Action and Active Retirement...

SIPTU economist, Michael Taft, has called for the introduction of a mandatory sick pay scheme which ensures that workers receive their full income while they are out of work due to illness. Speaking at a Webinar entitled ‘Healing our Sick Pay...

SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Gerry McCormack, has said that robust and comprehensive legislation to grant collective bargaining rights to workers in Ireland is urgent, particularly in light of the Covid-19 crisis and Brexit. He said: “The...

SIPTU, Fórsa and INMO representatives held an emergency meeting today (Wednesday, 7th October) to agree the next steps in a targeted campaign of industrial action to secure pay justice for thousands of Section 39 workers. The meeting was called to...

SIPTU, Fórsa and INMO representatives held an emergency meeting today (Wednesday, 7th October) to agree the next steps in a targeted campaign of industrial action to secure pay justice for thousands of Section 39 workers. The meeting was called to...

SIPTU representatives have written to the Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, calling on him to call for the linking of payments to employers in the sector to the provision of proper working conditions for employees during current Common...

SIPTU representatives have called for clarity concerning Covid-19 guidelines for the third level education sector and for the continuation of online learning until the Christmas break. SIPTU Education Sector Organiser, Karl Byrne, said: “On foot of...

SIPTU representatives have today (Thursday, 1st October) called on the management of St John of God's and the Health Service Executive (HSE) to immediately address the concerns of union members over jobs and the future provision of its services. The call...

SIPTU members have condemned the failure of the Government to meet a commitment to provide €2.6 million in funding to keep open King John’s Castle in Limerick City and Bunratty Castle in County Clare until the end of the year. SIPTU Organiser, Rachel...

SIPTU representatives have referred a dispute concerning the movement of 13 paramedic interns from ambulance stations in Dublin and the north-east to the south of the country, to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). SIPTU Organiser, John...

SIPTU Sector Organiser, John Murphy, has described the decision taken today by Bus Eireann to discontinue several of its high profile expressway routes as “short sighted, flawed and a kick in the teeth for workers and passengers”. Among...

SIPTU representatives have welcomed confirmation by the trustees of the Construction Workers Pension Scheme (CWPS) that workers isolating due to Covid-19 will have access to the scheme if a doctor confirms their isolation and the period involved. SIPTU Sector...

SIPTU representatives have today (Thursday, 24th September) demanded an urgent meeting with the management of the Health Service Executive (HSE) over the concerns of union members over its ability to deliver on the effective implementation of the Winter Service...

Only one third of Early Childhood Education and Care students intend to work in an early years setting according to a new survey published today (Wednesday, 23rd September) by SIPTU and the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) Speaking ahead of the launch of the...

SIPTU representatives have today (Wednesday, 23rd September) accused the Government of reneging on a pay restoration agreement for essential workers employed in over 250 Section 39 organisations providing frontline health and social care services. SIPTU Public...

SIPTU firefighters in the Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) have highlighted continuing staffing and ambulance shortages which are seriously undermining the effectiveness of the vital frontline service. SIPTU Organiser, Jim Sheridan, said: “It is ironic that...

Sisters of Charity workers gathering today (Friday, 18th September) for a socially distanced protest outside St Monica’s Nursing Home in Dublin have said that their #PayUpSisters campaign will continue until a just and reasonable outcome is achieved. At...

Representatives of SIPTU and Meat Industry Ireland (MII), an employers' umbrella grouping, have this afternoon (Friday, 18th September) agreed a wide-ranging safety protocol for workers in the meat processing industry which is aimed at...