News Archive

SIPTU representatives are seeking an urgent meeting with the management of Independent News and Media (INM) following the announcement to staff, today (Wednesday, 23rdOctober), that the company intends to close its printing plant in Citywest,...

SIPTU representatives have today (Wednesday, 23rd October) said that they are preparing to ballot members in some Section 39 organisations for strike action following the refusal of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) to fully honour a recent...

SIPTU representatives are seeking an urgent meeting with the management of pharmaceutical manufacturer, Novartis, following its announcement, today (Wednesday, 23rd October), of major job cuts at its plant in Ringaskiddy, county...

SIPTU members in Stryker, Carrigtwohill, county Cork yesterday (Monday, 21st October) had their claim for trade union recognition endorsed by the Labour Court. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Alan O’Leary, said: “The workers at...

SIPTU representatives have called on the Fianna Fáil Spokesman on Communications, Timmy Dooley, to withdraw remarks made in the Dáil yesterday (Thursday, 17th October) concerning the need for RTÉ to consider compulsory...

SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Gerry McCormack, has said that the latest agreement between the UK and the European Union has offered a solution that avoids the imposition of a hard border in Ireland. He noted that it proposes that Northern Ireland should...

The Bord na Mόna (BNM) Group of Unions has condemned announcements made yesterday (Wednesday, 16th October) by the Government and company as an attempt to portray further job losses as part of a ‘Just Transition’ plan for workers. BNM Group of...

A 72-hour work stoppage has been announced by SIPTU members working for the national speed camera van operator GoSafe from 9.00 a.m. on 26th October, along with additional industrial action which commenced on today (16th October), in a dispute related to...

SIPTU delegates attending the union’s Biennial Delegate Conference in Cork, have heard that the maintenance of the so-called Brexit ‘backstop’ following the UK leaving the EU was vital for workers North and South. In his address to...

SIPTU delegates have voted unanimously in favour of a call on the Government to lift the embargo on recruitment into the health services and to immediately fill all vacate positions at the union’s Biennial Conference taking place in City Hall, Cork,...

SIPTU delegates attending the union’s Biennial Delegate Conference in Cork, have today (Wednesday, 9th October) unanimously voted in favour of an emergency motion condemning the Government for deferring a 30 cents per hour increase in the minimum...

SIPTU representatives have expressed disappointment at the failure of the Government to address the low pay and staffing crisis in childcare in Budget 2020 and have vowed to escalate the union’s campaign by workers in the sector. SIPTU Head of Strategic...

SIPTU General Secretary designate, Joe Cunningham, has said that Budget 2020 is muddled, contradictory and regressive. “Workers paid for the banking crisis and the budgetary crisis. Now it seems our members and other workers are expected to pay...

SIPTU has called for urgent action by the Government to ensure new national safety standards are put into place in ports and docks following a series of recent fatalities in these workplaces. SIPTU Ports, Docks and Harbour Organiser, Jerry Brennan,...

SIPTU and the Union of Students of Ireland (USI) have today (Monday, 7th October) announced the renewal of an agreement between the two organisations to facilitate joint campaigns and provide third level students with support in the workplace. The agreement was...

SIPTU has called for the strict enforcement of the terms of a new Sectoral Employment Order (SEO) for the construction industry which comes into effect tomorrow (Tuesday, 1st October). SIPTU Sector Organiser, John Regan, said: “The terms of...

The crisis in Bord na Mόna has reached a critical stage, according to the Group of Unions (SIPTU, CONNECT, UNITE) which represents workers in the semi-state company. At a meeting yesterday with the Chief Executive Officer of the company,...

SIPTU members employed by, the operator of speed camera vans on behalf of the State, will begin a 24-hour work stoppage at 6.00 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday, 28th September) in a dispute related to working conditions at the company. SIPTU Organiser,...

The inaugural Early Years Professionals’ survey has found that 90% of educators are questioning their future in the childcare sector with low rates of pay the main issue. In a sector with an annual turnover of staff of 25%, childcare services are...

Members of the SIPTU Kerry District Council discussed Brexit and the challenges facing the health service at a seminar in the Bandon Hotel in Tralee, county Kerry on Wednesday, 25th September. The seminar was attended by shop stewards from private and...

This survey looks at the working lives and everyday struggles faced by Early Years educators; the results are deeply troubling. The survey reveals a profession living in poverty with low pay and a lack of basic entitlements. The survey was carried out during 2019 by...

SIPTU members employed as cleaners in Sligo Institute of Technology (IT) have voted unanimously to undertake a 48-hour work stoppage which will commence on Monday, 30th September at 8.00 a.m. in a dispute concerning a major reduction in their working hours....

SIPTU members employed by GoSafe Ireland, the operator of speed camera vans on behalf of the State, will conduct a 24-hour work stoppage beginning on 6.00 a.m. Saturday, 28thSeptember, in a dispute related to working conditions at the company....

SIPTU representatives have expressed their support for an employee loan scheme, initiated today (Thursday, 19thSeptember) by some of the beef processing companies to alleviate the financial hardship faced by workers during the ongoing Beef Crisis. SIPTU...

SIPTU members working as health service support staff have voted by 95.65% to 4.35% in favour of a Labour Court recommendation aimed at resolving a dispute over a HSE job evaluation scheme. The result of the vote was announced today (Wednesday, 18th September)...

SIPTU representatives have today (Tuesday, 17th September) called on the Office of the Revenue Commissioners to intervene in an effort to lift workers of St Vincent’s Centre in Cork city out of employment limbo. SIPTU Industrial Organiser, Sharon...

SIPTU has called on the Government to provide additional income supports for the thousands of workers now laid-off due to the ongoing beef crisis. Up to 3000 SIPTU members and their families are directly affected by the ongoing crisis at the beef plants. SIPTU...

SIPTU has called on the Government to establish a taskforce to tackle the worsening crisis in the meat industry which now threatens up to 3,000 jobs. SIPTU Organiser, Denis Gormalley, said: “The crisis in the meat industry, which has...

SIPTU representatives, in conjunction with the International Transport Workers' Federation, held a meeting with Minister of State in the Department of Trade, Employment and Business, Pat Breen, this afternoon (Tuesday, 10th...

SIPTU representatives have said that hundreds of jobs are now at risk due to the worsening dispute in the beef industry and have criticised Meat Industry Ireland, the body which represents processors in the sector, for refusing to meet with them to discuss...

SIPTU representatives have called on professional artists to avail of an expansion in the categories of those eligible to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance while they focus on their artistic work and to develop their portfolio. SIPTU Services Division Organiser,...

SIPTU members employed by GoSafe Ireland, the company which operates speed camera vans on behalf of the State, have voted overwhelming for industrial action, including strike action, in a ballot counted today (Friday, 6thSeptember) in...

SIPTU representatives have today (Monday, 2nd September) called for the establishment of a Living Wage Fund for workers in the childcare sector as part of Budget 2020, in order to ensure an increase in the number of quality services for children. SIPTU...

SIPTU representatives have today written to Meat Industry Ireland, the body which represents processors in the industry, calling on it to ensure that union members do not suffer a financial loss because of ongoing protests at processing plants around the...

SIPTU Waterford District Council will release new data showing the extent and impact of the spread of precarious work practices in the county at a seminar in the Tower Hotel, Waterford City on Friday, 30th August. Speakers at the seminar will include Mayor...

SIPTU members at the Irish Pride Fine Foods plant in Taghmon, county Wexford, have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking strike action following a refusal by management to implement a Labour Court recommendation concerning trade union recognition. SIPTU...

The Association of Childhood Professionals (ACP), SIPTU, and PLÉ, the Irish Association of Academics in Early Childhood Education and Care in Higher Education, have formed a working group to explore the establishment of a professional...

The SIPTU Dublin District Council has said that calls for a charge to be placed on employees’ car parking spaces amount to an attempt to impose a new and unfair tax on workers in the city. SIPTU Dublin District Council Joint Secretary, Brendan Carr,...

SIPTU representatives have called for a major reassessment of the procurement and tendering policy for publicly funded building projects following the issues that have emerged in relation to 40 recently built schools. SIPTU Construction Sector Organiser, John...

SIPTU representatives will meet with the liquidators of Avara Shannon Pharmaceutical Services Ltd, under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) tomorrow (Friday, 16th August), at the plant in Shannon, county Clare. SIPTU...

SIPTU representatives have renewed their call for better protections for all workers in port and dock environments across the country following the death this morning (Thursday, 14th August) of a haulier in Dublin docks. SIPTU Ports, Docks and Harbour...

SIPTU representatives have called on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, the Beef Plan Movement and Meat Industry Ireland to engage in meaningful negotiations aimed at finding a speedy resolution to a dispute which is...

SIPTU representatives will meet with the liquidators of Avara Shannon Pharmaceutical Services Ltd, Shannon, county Clare, today (Wednesday, 7th August) to discuss proposals to protect the 114 jobs at the plant. SIPTU Sector Organiser,...

SIPTU representatives have today (Wednesday,7th August) confirmed that the Labour Court has recommended increases in pay for over 7,000 SIPTU members working in support grades across the health service. The court issued two recommendations aimed at...

SIPTU has called on Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton, to recognise the extent of the funding crisis for public service broadcasting by the speedier implementation of the new media charge which was announced...

SIPTU representatives have welcomed the decision by the Supreme Court today (Wednesday 31st July) to grant an appeal by union member, Marie Daly, against a decision of the Court of Appeal last year in a case in which she alleged that she had been the...

The Bord Na Mόna Group of Unions (GOU) has criticised the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton, for failing to engage with it during his meetings with other stakeholders today. The GOU, which...

SIPTU has endorsed the call made at a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Children and Youth Affairs, today (Wednesday, 31st July), for increased support for workers seeking to highlight problems in childcare facilities. SIPTU Head of...

The third annual SIPTU Markievicz/Partridge Summer School focused on the topical issue of Early Years education at well attended meetings in Carrick on Shannon Friday, 26th July and Sligo on Saturday, 27th July. The Summer School programme of events began...

The Bord na Móna Group of Unions has said that comments made by An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, today (Friday, 26th July) do not adequately deal with their concerns and that workers’ representatives must be fully involved in discussions...

SIPTU representatives have called on the Government to ensure a graduate led workforce with decent pay and conditions is essential in order to attract and retain professionals in the child care sector. The union has also called for a full Garda and Tusla investigation...

The SIPTU Big Start Campaign has called for the radical reform of the childcare sector to ensure that the care and education of children is the primary focus. SIPTU Head of Organising and Campaigns, Darragh O’Connor, said: “We have a big...

SIPTU representatives have today (Tuesday, 23rd July) confirmed that the Labour Court will issue recommendations aimed at resolving the dispute involving support grade staff and chefs in the health service within 10 working days. SIPTU Health Division...

SIPTU members in the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) have welcomed the endorsement of the governance review recommendations that were passed at the EGM of the Association on Saturday (20th July). The FAI staff members have also noted the call by the Minister for...

SIPTU has called on the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton, to take direct responsibility for solving the crisis concerning the continued operation of ESB power stations which is threatening thousands of jobs...

Representatives of SIPTU and the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) have expressed condolences to the family of the docker and union member, Kevin McGeough, who was buried in Rostrevor, county Down, this morning (22nd July). Kevin...

Bord Na Móna workers are to hold a public protest in county Longford tomorrow (Monday 23rd July) to highlight their opposition to the immediate threat by the company to lay off permanent staff at Mountdillon without pay. Trade union members of SIPTU,...

Since the announcement by Bord Na Móna on Thursday 11th July 2019 that 148 workers in Mountdillon, Co Longford would be laid off, the Group of Unions has been trying to explore all alternatives to the loss of these jobs. During those...

The National Gallery of Ireland (NGI) and SIPTU have announced the signing of ‘Transition 2020’, a dispute resolution and engagement framework agreement which is at the forefront of modern organisational relations. Following successful discussions...

SIPTU members at the Irish Pride Fine Foods plant in Taghmon, County Wexford, have had their claim for trade union recognition endorsed in a Labour Court recommendation. SIPTU Organiser, Terry Bryan, said: “Union representatives referred...

SIPTU representatives have today (Wednesday, 17th July) said that any proposed legislation to introduce greater regulation and reform to the governance of higher education cannot be used to divert attention away from the growing funding crisis facing the sector....

On Friday 26th July, the SIPTU Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon (SLR) District Council will launch its third annual Markievicz/Partridge summer school at 5 p.m. in the Bush Hotel, Carrick on Shannon, county Leitrim. The theme of this year’s...

SIPTU Ambulance Sector representatives have today (Monday, 15th July) confirmed that SIPTU members working in the National Ambulance Service (NAS) in Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare will be balloted for industrial action, up to and including strike...

Following lengthy discussions with the Bord na Móna Group of Unions (GOU), management has agreed to suspend the letters of lay-off sent to all permanent staff at Mount Dillon, county Longford. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Willie Noone, said:...

SIPTU representatives will meet with the liquidator of Avara Shannon Pharmaceutical Services Ltd early next week following the news that the company has been ordered into provisional liquidation by the High Court. The company, which is part of Avara Pharma Group...

SIPTU Health representatives have accepted an invitation to attend a hearing at the Labour Court on Monday, 22nd July, to discuss the dispute involving 10,000 health service workers over the implementation of a job evaluation scheme....

The Bord na Móna (BNM) Group of Unions is set to convene a full meeting of its representatives tomorrow morning (Friday, 12th July) to discuss with management the news that up to 148 workers are set to lose their jobs at the plant in Mountdillon,...

SIPTU members in the Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) have today (Thursday, 11th July) have raised serious concerns at the number of fire engines taken out of service due to severe staff shortages. SIPTU DFB Convenor, Shane McGill, said: “On...

SIPTU representatives are set to demand that a living wage is paid to all Early Years educators as part of the unions’ pre-budget submission. Speaking in advance of the launch of the pre-budget submission on Monday (15th July) at 6.00 p.m. in Our Lady of Lourdes...

A Labour Court hearing aimed at resolving the current dispute involving up to 10,000 health workers and chefs has adjourned until Wednesday 10th July at 3.00 p.m. SIPTU Health Divisional Organiser, Paul Bell, said: “After three days of...

Irish Equity and the Musicians Union of Ireland (MUI) have welcomed the proposed social protection measures for professional performing artists which were announced by the Government today (5th July. According to SIPTU Services Division Organiser, Karan...

SIPTU representatives have today (Monday, 1st July) welcomed the launch of a report into the role of health care assistants (HCA) at the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin. Conducted by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in collaboration with union...

SIPTU representatives have today (Friday, 28thJune) confirmed that strikes in 38 selected hospitals planned for next week (2nd, 3rd and 4th July) have been deferred pending the outcomeofa full Labour Court hearing set for Wednesday, 3rdJuly on the...

SIPTU members who are cleaners at Cabinteely Community School in south Dublin have won a battle against the outsourcing of their jobs. Following industrial action by Union members, the Board of Management of the school has confirmed that it has reversed the...

SIPTU activists will be joining with members in other construction industry unions to protest outside the site of the new National Children’s Hospital in Dublin tomorrow morning (Friday, 28th June) from 6.30 a.m to highlight bogus self-employment in the...

SIPTU Health representatives have accepted an invitation to attend talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) tomorrow (Thursday, 27th June) at 10.30 a.m. to discuss the dispute involving 10,000 health service workers over the implementation of a...

SIPTU representatives have confirmed today (Monday, 24th June) that talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) aimed at resolving a dispute on job evaluation have concluded without an agreement. SIPTU Health Divisional Organiser, Paul Bell said:...

SIPTU representatives have tonight (Friday, 21st June) confirmed that a 24 hour strike planned for next Tuesday (25th June) has been deferred pending the outcome of talks on Monday (24th June) at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) aimed at resolving the...

The National Minimum Wage (Protection of Employee Bill Tips) Bill was passed following a vote of TDs in the Dáil today (Thursday, 20th June). The result of the vote was 75 in favour and 41 against, with Fine Gael and the majority of members of the...

SIPTU representatives have confirmed that a 24 hour workplace stoppage planned for tomorrow (Thursday, 20th June) has been deferred pending the outcome of emergency talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) on the implementation of a job evaluation...

SIPTU Meath District Council officers have today (Tuesday, 18th June) urged all local politicians to support the Protection of Employee Tips Bill. The call comes following an emergency meeting of the Meath District Council executive last night (Monday,...

SIPTUHealth representatives have tonight (Monday, 17th June) confirmed that talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) aimed at resolving a dispute on job evaluation have ended without agreement. SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell,...

SIPTU representatives have today (Tuesday, 17th June) said that any plans to introduce a new home care scheme must prioritise people over the profits of private care companies. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Marie Butler said: “Over recent days, it...

SIPTU representatives have demanded that any potential freeze on the allocation of new home help packages is avoided, and that no financial barrier is put in front of vulnerable people in need of home care support. Speaking to Liberty Secretary of the SIPTU...

SIPTU representatives have confirmed this evening (Thursday, 13th June) that talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) aimed at resolving a dispute on job evaluation have adjourned until Monday 17th June. SIPTU Health Divisional Organiser, Paul...

SIPTU Health representatives have today (Wednesday, 12th June) accepted an invitation to attend exploratory talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) tomorrow (Thursday, 13th June) at 2.30pm to discuss the dispute on job evaluation. The dispute has...

SIPTU members, working as cleaners, at Cabinteely Community School, Dublin, have today (10th, June) commenced the first in a series of work stoppages in a dispute over the proposed outsourcing of their work to a private contract cleaning...

The SIPTU Cavan District Council will today (Friday, 7th June) launch its new Welcome Centre and host a presentation event for long-serving union activists at the SIPTU offices on Ashe Street, Cavan. Among those who will address the event are SIPTU General...

SIPTU members working as support staff and chefs in 38 hospitals and health care facilities have today (Wednesday, 5th June) served notice of a 24 hour work stoppage on Thursday, 20th June, in a dispute concerning the failure to implement pay...

The SIPTU Big Start campaign has called for a focus on improving workers’ conditions and pay in order to resolve the escalating crisis in the childcare sector which is resulting in working parents being unable to find suitable facilities to care for young...

SIPTU activists will be supporting secondary school student groups in organising major rallies across the country during their strike for action on climate change, which is taking place on Friday, 24thMay. SIPTU Global Solidarity Campaign Secretary,...

SIPTU representatives have today (Wednesday, 22nd May) confirmed that a process for restoring the pay of thousands of Section 39 workers has commenced in health and social care facilities across the country. The move follows lengthy discussions under the...

SIPTU’s National Executive Council (NEC) is calling on union members to vote ‘Yes’ in the divorce referendum on Friday, 24thMay. In a statement today (22ndMay) the NEC said: “On Friday, 24thMay, the electorate will be asked to...

SIPTU members working as health service support staff have voted by 94% to 6% in favour of taking strike action in a dispute concerning the implementation of a job evaluation scheme. The result of vote was announced today (Friday, 17th May) at a special...

SIPTU representatives are seeking an urgent meeting with the senior management ofGSK following an announcement today (Thursday, 16thMay) that themulti-national pharmaceutical company has sold its manufacturing plant in Ringaskiddy, county Cork, to...

SIPTU representatives are seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, to discuss the threat to jobs in the FAI due to the precarious financial situation of the organisation. SIPTU Sport Sector...

SIPTU members in the construction industry have welcomed a pay increase and other improvements granted under a new Sector Employment Order (SEO) which was introduced by the Government in a ministerial order today. According to SIPTU Transport, Energy,...

Community Employment (CE) supervisors have suspended five days of strike action, which was scheduled [https://www.forsa.ie/ce-supervisors-to-take-strike-action/] to commence on Monday (13th May). The CE supervisors are represented by Fórsa and SIPTU trade...

SIPTU and Unite representatives will meet with the management of Mondelez Ireland early next week to discuss the announcement by the company that it is seeking to implement 70 job losses at its Cadbury production plant in Coolock, Dublin 5. SIPTU...

The South East launch of the ‘More Power To You’ campaign took place last night (7th May) in Kilkenny. The campaign supported by SIPTU, Fórsa and Connect trade unions is calling for increased funding and powers for local government. At a...