News Archive

The members of the SIPTU Construction Sector have overwhelmingly voted for industrial action in the event that employers fail to pay a 2.7% increase due on the 1st October, 2020. Earlier this year, the High Court ruled that legislation allowing for the...

SIPTU Divisional Organiser, Greg Ennis, has called for the immediate recommencement of Covid-19 testing for workers in the meat processing industry. He said: "We are extremely concerned that serial testing in meat plants has been halted by the HSE....

SIPTU has launched a comprehensive fiscal policy that seeks to meet the challenges facing the economy and society from threats such as the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Brexit and the climate crisis in a manner which will produce a more equitable country. The...

SIPTU has stated that the Government’s new waste collection policy fails to address the critical problem of almost a quarter of households in the country having no domestic waste collection service. SIPTU Public Administration and Community Division...

SIPTU has included a demand for a mandatory Living Wage and sick pay scheme for workers as part of its pre-budget submission for the childcare sector, launched today (Monday, 7th September). The measures are designed to ensure that children and families...

SIPTU members employed at the car parts manufacturer BorgWarner in Tralee, county Kerry, have today (Friday, 4th September) indicated their support for the intervention of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in a dispute concerning redundancy...

SIPTU representatives have called for immediate action from the new Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, to resolve problems in the regulatory and licencing system for tree felling that could result in thousands of job...

SIPTU members in the St. Vincent’s Centre in Cork City are to transfer their employment to the COPE Foundation, which will result in improved terms and conditions of work and the maintenance of its vital services for residents. SIPTU Organiser,...

SIPTU representatives have written today (Wednesday, 2nd September) to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, seeking clarification on the public health guidelines for the return of...

Sisters of Charity workers will hold a protest tomorrow (Wednesday, 2nd September) to highlight their demands for an urgent meeting with management to negotiate a fair redundancy package and protect services in the community. The socially distanced...

SIPTU representatives have today (Tuesday, 1st September) condemned the National Ambulance Service (NAS) management for failing to pay emergency medical technicians (EMTs) their full wages due to staff shortages in the payroll department. SIPTU Ambulance Sector...

SIPTU representatives have condemned a threat by management to the jobs of members employed at the Premier Periclase magnesium products plant in Drogheda, county Louth, who have been on strike since Monday, 17th August. SIPTU Organiser, Stephen...

SIPTU representatives have referred a dispute concerning redundancy payments a car parts manufacturer BorgWarner in Tralee, county Kerry, to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). SIPTU Organiser, Joe Kelly, said: “Discussions with...

SIPTU members have resolved a dispute at the Leo Pharma pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Crumlin, Dublin 12, after the company offered five of their colleagues the opportunity to return to work following their sacking in June which contravened a...

SIPTU representatives have sought clarification from the Irish Hotel Federation (IHF) on its position on breaches of the Government’s Covid-19 regulations following the announcement of a Gardai investigation into the Oireachtas Golf Society event held in a...

SIPTU members have given a cautious welcome to the decision of the Government to provide funding to ensure that the cultural sites, King John’s Castle in Limerick City and Bunratty Castle in County Clare remain open until the end of 2020. SIPTU...

SIPTU representatives have today (Wednesday, 19th August) called for the immediate implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel if the private sector is to continue to play a role in the delivery of...

Workers employed at three institutions run by the Sisters of Charity highlighted their demand for management to meet them and negotiate the payment of a fair redundancy package, in a protest outside St Monica’s Nursing Home on Belvedere Place, Dublin...

SIPTU members are calling on the Government to provide funding to ensure that the cultural sites, King John’s Castle in Limerick City and Bunratty Castle in County Clare, which are operated by Shannon Heritage remain open past the 31st August. SIPTU...

SIPTU members at the Leo Pharma pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Kimmage, Dublin 12, began a campaign of industrial action this morning (Monday, 17th August) at 6.00 a.m. following an attempt by management to sack five workers in breach of a...

SIPTU members employed by Premier Periclase, a magnesium products plant in Drogheda, county Louth, will commence strike action on Monday 17th August, in a dispute resulting from a proposal to shutdown the plant without agreement with its...

SIPTU, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and Fórsa Trade Union representatives have today (Friday, 14th August) called on the Health Service Executive to protect services for residents and families at the Caritas Convalescent...

SIPTU representatives have said they have received an initial response from the Sisters Of Charity to their call for discussions on the issues arising for employees from the decision to place into liquidation the Caritas Convalescent Centre, St. Mary’s...

SIPTU representatives today (Tuesday, 11th August) held an emergency meeting with Naas General Hospital management following a reported outbreak of Covid-19 among staff at the hospital. SIPTU Organiser John Hubbard said: “SIPTU representatives held an...

Union representatives have tonight (Tuesday, 11th August) confirmed that representatives from SIPTU, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and Fórsa Trade Union representatives will meet with KPMG, the provisional liquidator of the...

SIPTU has condemned the attempt by the management of the Debenhams store in Belfast to sack 40 workers, today (Tuesday, 11th August), without any consultation and has called for the immediate reinstatement of the effected staff. SIPTU...

SIPTU, Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and Fórsa Trade Union representatives have today (Monday 10th August) written to Sisters of Charity management seeking an emergency meeting to discuss the payment of a fair redundancy package to staff...

SIPTU has called for the acceptance of a charter fully outlining adequate Covid-19 prevention procedures at Irish meat plants following a meeting between union and industry representatives in Dublin today (Monday, 10th August), where it was agreed to...

Irish Equity members have welcomed the clarification by the Minister for Social Protection, Community and Rural Development, Heather Humphreys, on her earlier comments made last weekend regarding the future expectations of work within the Arts in...

SIPTU General Secretary, Joe Cunningham, has offered his sincere condolences to the wife and family of John Hume who did so much to promote civil rights, justice and peace during his extraordinary life-time. “On behalf of the members and...

SIPTU members have reacted with anger, disappointment and hurt at the comments made by Fianna Fáil TD, Marc MacSharry who has accused public servants of laziness during the Covid-19 crisis. SIPTU Deputy General Secretary for the Public...

SIPTU representatives met with the management of BorgWarner today (Thursday, 30th July) to discuss the company’s decision to close its manufacturing plant in Tralee, county Kerry. SIPTU Organiser, Joe Kelly, said: “Management...

SIPTU members have supported a government commitment to establish a Third Level Policy Forum which will include representatives of the Government, students, trade unions and further and higher level institutions. SIPTU Education Sector Organiser,...

SIPTU representatives who provide vital public water services will today discuss the future status of Irish Water today following confirmation from the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, that he is seeking an...

SIPTU members at the BorgWarner manufacturing plant in Tralee, county Kerry, have expressed their shock and concern at the decision by the company to cease production of electric air heaters by the end of the year and to close the factory. SIPTU...

SIPTU representatives have today (Friday, 24th July) called for an urgent meeting with the management of St Marys, Telford in south Dublin. The call comes following a meeting between management and a liquidator. SIPTU Health Organiser, Brian Condra...

SIPTU General Secretary, Joe Cunningham, has asked the Government to ensure that workers and their representatives are involved in the distribution and monitoring of the grants and subsidies included in the €5 billion stimulus plan announced today....

SIPTU representatives have today (Wednesday, 22nd July) cautiously welcomed an announcement of increased emergency funding for the third level sector to deal with issues arising from the Covid-19 crisis. SIPTU Education Sector...

SIPTU representatives will attend the Oireachtas Covid-19 Committee tomorrow (Tuesday, 21st July) to discuss coronavirus infection rates among healthcare workers. It is expected that SIPTU representatives will outline several contributing factors,...

A SIPTU survey of workers in the childcare sector, released today (Monday, 20th July), has indicated that many have suffered significant pay cuts since returning to work last month following the closure of services due to the Covid-19 crisis SIPTU...

SIPTU representatives have today (Monday, 20th July) demanded strong and concentrated action from the Government to deal with long standing issues facing workers in the community and voluntary sector. SIPTU Deputy General Secretary for the Public Service,...

SIPTU representatives have today (Thursday, 16th July) insisted that any stimulus package for the hospitality sector must not be a blank cheque for employers. SIPTU Sector Organiser Martin O’Rourke said: “It would be a mistake for the Government to...

SIPTU members at Aer Lingus have voted by 55% to 45% to reject the Covid-19 crisis recovery plan proposed by the airline. The proposals were put to a ballot of the union’s 1500 members at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports over recent days. SIPTU Divisional...

SIPTU representatives have warned construction companies that its members will conduct strike action if there is any attempt to undermine workers’ agreed wages and conditions in the wake of a High Court decision to strike down parts of the Industrial Relations...

SIPTU representatives have called on the Government to co-ordinate the approach of higher-level education institutions in relation to the delivery of ‘face-to face’ teaching when students return in September to ensure all adhere with public health advice....

Members of the SIPTU Meath District Council are protesting outside four bank branches in Navan, county Meath, today (Monday, 13thJuly) between 12.00 noon and 2.00 p.m., to show their opposition to the charging of interest on loans and mortgages...

SIPTU members employed by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) support the full implementation of a memorandum of understanding concerning the organisation’s future which includes the appointment of six new independent directors. SIPTU Organiser,...

SIPTU members have been angered by the exclusion of union representatives from appearing at the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response which will discuss the situation in the meat processing industry today (Friday, 10th July). SIPTU Manufacturing...

SIPTU members held a general meeting in the courtyard of King John’s Castle in Limerick City on Tuesday 7th July to discuss the threat of closure for the historic site and others operated by the Shannon Group. SIPTU Organiser, Rachel Keane, said:...

Representatives of the Shannon Airport Group of Unions today (7th July) called for immediate discussions with management following its announcement that the company intends to cut pay by up to 20% until April 2023. Speaking on behalf of the Group of Unions...

SIPTU Construction Sector Organiser, John Regan, has called on the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) to confirm that the next pay increase of 2.7% due to construction workers on the 1st October will be paid and that all the terms of the Sectoral...

SIPTU representatives joined with trade unions across Europe today (Tuesday, 23rd June) to celebrate the contribution of public service workers on United Nations Public Service Day. SIPTU Deputy General Secretary for the Public Service, John King,...

SIPTU representatives have called for the extension of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme for the childcare sector before the full reopening of services in September. SIPTU Head of Strategic Organising, Darragh O’Connor, said: “There was...

SIPTU representatives will meet the Special Oireachtas Committee on Covid-19 tomorrow (Tuesday, 23rd June) to discuss the issue of childcare for essential health workers during the health crisis. SIPTU Health Divisional Organiser, Paul Bell, said:...

Irish Equity has today (Monday, 22nd June) called on the Government to put artists and arts workers first in planning for the recovery. Irish Equity Organiser, Karan O’Loughlin said: “We have seen movement from the Government over the last week...

Irish Equity has welcomed the announcement by the Government of vital additional funding for the arts and cultural sector, amounting to a total of €25 million. This will bring funding for the Arts Council in 2020 to €100 million. SIPTU Divisional...

SIPTU representatives have described as unacceptable a decision by Aer Lingus to withdraw proposals aimed at averting pay reductions and job losses. SIPTU Divisional Organiser, Karan O’Loughlin said: Aer Lingus management has confirmed that the pay...

The deferral of the pension age increase to 67 contained in the Programme for Government has been welcomed by the Stop67 campaign. Ethel Buckley, Deputy General Secretary of SIPTU said: “During the recent general election there was widespread opposition to...

SIPTU General Secretary, Joe Cunningham, has said that the proposed Programme for Government published today by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party contains initiatives which can improve the lives of working people and their families...

SIPTU has today called on the Construction Industry Federation to ensure its members are fully compliant with the Sectoral Employment Order (SEO), and Collective Agreements. The union is warning employers that they cannot avoid full compliance during the...

Funding for the reopening of childcare services, announced today (10th June) by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, has failed to address the major issues facing Early Years Educators, according to SIPTU. SIPTU Head of Organising,...

Two of the most important tourist attractions in the Mid-West, Bunratty Castle & Folk Park and King John’s Castle, Limerick, will reopen their doors to the public from June 29th instead of July 20th. SIPTU has welcomed the decision,...

SIPTU representatives have met with Shannon Heritage over its decision not to reopen its’ sites on a fulltime basis, contrary to the Government’s return to work protocol. Rachel Keane, SIPTU Organiser, said, “We are extremely...

SIPTU is seeking an urgent meeting with Debenhams senior management in Northern Ireland to discuss the plight of workers who have been sacked without consultation or notice. Niall McNally, SIPTU Organiser, says that, “This is contrary to the...

SIPTU representatives are to meet with Shannon Heritage, one of Ireland’s leading heritage tourism operators tomorrow (Thursday 4th June) over its decision not to reopen sites on a full-time basis in line with the Government’s return to work...

Irish Equity today wholeheartedly endorsed the recovery programme which has been launched by the National Campaign for the Arts (NCFA) to ensure that the long term damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic to the sector is minimised. Karan O’Loughlin, Irish...

This morning, (Tuesday, 2nd June) SIPTU representatives held a highly productive meeting with the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, at which union officials outlined the serious concerns members have over the need for full and transparent data...

SIPTU Health Division representatives have today (Monday, 1st June) called on the Minister for Health, Simon Harris to ensure information relating to the Covid-19 infection rates of all health workers is released without delay. SIPTU Health Division...

SIPTU Hospitality Sector Organiser Martin O’Rourke has criticised the decision of the Government not to include worker representatives on the recently established Task Force charged with providing a safe, quality environment in which the hospitality...

SIPTU representatives have called on Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party to ensure that the deferral of the planned pension age increase to 67 next year is included in any agreed Programme for Government. SIPTU research, Michal Taft said:...

SIPTU Health representatives have today (Sunday 24th, May) condemned the failure of Government to include a voice for health workers on the Nursing Home Expert Panel, established by Minister for Health, Simon Harris, in response to the...

SIPTU representatives at Aer Lingus have called on the company to continue with current pay arrangements following a statement by the company that it will unilaterally cut pay and working hours after 21st June. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Neil McGowan said:...

The Trade Union Federation, comprising Ireland's largest construction unions, SIPTU, BATU and Connect have signed a landmark agreement with the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) to ensure the safety of workers across the industry. The...

SIPTU representatives and the Migrants Rights Council of Ireland (MRCI) have written to the chief executive of the Health And Safety Authority (HSA) to complain about its failure to carry out inspections in meat plants across the country where there have been more...

SIPTU representatives have called for urgent discussions with the management of the Dublin Airport Authority (daa) after the announcement today that the company is seeking to reduce the workforce in Dublin and Cork airports by up to 1000 people. SIPTU Sector...

SIPTU Health Division representatives have today (Monday, 18th May) demanded that the Government publishes a full and transparent breakdown of the health settings where over 7,600 workers have now tested positive for Covid-19. SIPTU Health Division...

SIPTU representatives have requested an urgent meeting with the management of National Pen following last week’s announcement of the loss of 176 jobs in its Dundalk call centre. SIPTU Organiser, Denis Sheridan said: “SIPTU is asking that National Pen...

On this day we remember the most significant revolutionary in the history of the Irish trade union, socialist and republican movements. James Connolly was also a leading progressive voice in the global struggle for worker’s rights in the first decades of...

The Trade Union Federation (TUF), which includes SIPTU, BATU and CONNECT trade unions, have called on construction employers to ensure that maximum protection is provided for workers when they return to work tomorrow. SIPTU Construction Sector...

SIPTU transport representatives have called for the mandatory introduction of face masks for passengers using public bus, rail and tram services. They said that its members are disappointed at the announcement today (Friday, 15th May) by An...

SIPTU Manufacturing Division Organiser, Greg Ennis, has called for the immediate creation of a ‘Farm to Fork’ meat industry taskforce to deal with the spread of Covid-19, with more than 600 cases of the virus reported in plants across the...

SIPTU’s Education Sector Committee has called for the establishment of a separate government department for third level education and research. SIPTU Public Administration Division Organiser, Adrian Kane said: “The problems facing the sector prior to...

Workers at National Pen in Dundalk, county Louth have insisted that they wish to be represented by SIPTU during discussions on redundancy terms following the decision by the company to remove 176 employees from its workforce. SIPTU Industrial Organiser,...

SIPTU and the Big Start Campaign are calling on political leaders to retain the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) in order to ensure that issues relevant to children remain a priority at the highest level of government. SIPTU Head of Campaigns and...

SIPTU representatives have called on members of Dublin City Council to reject a management proposal to sell a waste recycling facility in Ballymount, Dublin 24, to a private company. SIPTU Organiser, Brendan O’Brien, said: “This...

SIPTU Health representatives have today (Sunday 10th, May) demanded immediate government intervention to ensure that all health workers who are battling to stop the spread of Covid-19 are treated equally. SIPTU Health Divisional Organiser Paul Bell said:...

SIPTU Health representatives have today (Tuesday, 5th May) called on the Government to immediately revise the date for the reopening of childcare facilities and to offer a special “annual leave credit” for all health and essential workers. SIPTU...

SIPTU along with several other Early Years organisations have today (Friday, 1st May) launched a Model of Early Years and School Age Services which has long term benefits for children, families, the economy and society. SIPTU Head of Campaigns and...

SIPTU representatives have today (Friday, 1st May) confirmed the union has secured an agreement offering student radiographers working on the frontline of the Covid-19 crisis a paid contract of employment. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Kevin Figgis said:...

SIPTU representatives have today (1st May) called for detailed discussions with management in Aer Lingus following the announcement that the company intends to cut job numbers by 20%. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Neil McGowan said: “Management today informed...

SIPTU representatives have called for the mandatory temperature testing and the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for workers in meat and dairy processing plants following the confirmation of clusters of Covid-19 infections in a number of facilities....

SIPTU representatives have raised serious concerns with proposed return to work measures for the construction industry and called for agreement on a protocol for the sector which prioritises the safety of workers. SIPTU TEAC Division Organiser, Karan O...

The Bord na Móna (BNM) Group of Unions has condemned the decision of management at the semi-state company to attempt to proceed today (Thursday, 30th April) with the removal of workers from its payroll. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Willie Noone,...

SIPTU and the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) have called on the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) to immediately inspect the Liffey Meats facility in Ballyjamesduff, county Cavan, to ensure its compliance with Covid-19 precautions. In a joint...

SIPTU Health representatives have today (Thursday, 23rd April) said the Government’s plan to meet the childcare needs of health and other essential workers falls well short of what is required by all workers on the frontline of the Covid-19 crisis. SIPTU...

SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, has called on the Government to bring the private nursing home sector into State control for the period of the Covid-19 crisis as it did with the private hospitals. According to the Department of Health,...

The Bord na Mόna (BNM) Group of Unions has condemned proposals to lay-off over 200 workers this week and has called on the board of the semi-state company to reject the plan. BNM Group of Unions Secretary, Willie Noone, said: “BNM management...

SIPTU representatives have condemned the manner in which Debenhams Retail Ireland Limited has treated its employees and have committed to challenging the manner in which a collective redundancy notice was served by the company. At the request of the company, the...

New government will need progressive counterweight to centre-right to avoid past mistakes In the storm of this public health crisis we’ve seen a significant shift away from a four-decade market-centred economic orthodoxy towards some of the principles and tools...

The SIPTU Big Start National Committee has said that the introduction of the Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme (WSCS), which was announced yesterday (Thursday, 16th April), will greatly assist in maintaining a skilled workforce in the Early Years sector....