News Archive

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...

SIPTU members in the Coca-Cola manufacturing plant in Ballina, county Mayo, are to commence a ballot for industrial action, up to and including strike action, as part of their campaign to secure collective bargaining rights. SIPTU...

Community Employment (CE) supervisors will begin five days of strike action next Monday (13th May), across the country, following the failure of the Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, to agree to meet...

SIPTU, Fórsa and Connect Trade Union launched the ‘The More Power To You’ campaign, which calls for increased funding and powers for local government,in the north-west region at a meeting in Fish Quay in Sligo, county Sligo...

SIPTU representatives have today (Tuesday, 30th April) raised concerns that the formula used to determine safe staffing levels for the new National Children's Hospital could potentially lead to a shortfall of almost 400 nursing posts. SIPTU Health Division...

SIPTU members at the Boxmore Plastics Ltd. manufacturing plant in Ballyconnell, county Cavan are to take strike action on Wednesday 8th May due to the company’s refusal to deliver a pay increase as recommended by the Labour Court. This follows a vote by...

The Irish Veterinary Nursing Association (IVNA) has begun a process of affiliation with SIPTU following the signing of a service level agreement committing the two organisations to greater co-operation at an event in University College Dublin, this afternoon...

A documentary film, ‘The Bard of Drumcondra’, on the life and work of trade union banner maker, actor and political activist the late Jer O’Leary will be launched in Liberty Hall, Dublin 1, on Friday, 3rd May at...

SIPTU representatives have today (Wednesday, 24th April) confirmed that members working in Coca Cola are considering industrial action as part of a campaign to secure collective bargaining rights at a plant in Ballina, county Mayo. The dispute centres on...

The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and the Government have agreed enhanced protections for fishers which will see Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) inspectors boarding vessels to ensure the employment rights of workers are being respected. The...

Community Employment (CE) Supervisors announced, at a rally outsideDáil Éireann this morning (Tuesday, 16thApril), that they will strike for five days in Mayif the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, does not meet their...

Community Employment (CE) Supervisors who are members of SIPTU and Fórsa trade unions will hold a rally to highlight their dispute with the Government concerning its failure to implement a Labour Court recommendation in 2008 in relation to their right to...

SIPTU Health will begin balloting up to 17,000 members working as Health Care Assistants, Chefs, Laboratory Aides, Theatre Operatives and in other support grades including those working in catering, household, portering,...

While the publication of the long-awaited Gender Pay Gap Bill is welcome, SIPTU members continue to have concerns over important aspects of the proposed legislation, according to the union’s Head of Equality and Policy, Marie Sherlock....

SIPTU has demanded that the livelihoods of workers employed by the FAI are not used as a ‘political football’ in the worsening crisis in the Association resulting from the Sport Ireland decision to withhold funding for the organisation. SIPTU Sport Sector...

Members of the SIPTU Nursing and Midwives Sector Committee have today (Monday, 8th April) determined that a ballot on a proposed new nursing contract would be premature. SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said: “Following a meeting of...

SIPTU Health representatives have today (Thursday, 4thApril) demanded that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform allocate funds to implement the findings of a job evaluation scheme for up to 7000 support workers in hospitals across the country. The...

SIPTU has today (Wednesday, 3rd April) received the latest of two Labour Court recommendations aimed at resolving issues in dispute concerning nurses and midwives. SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said: “In the coming days we will be...

SIPTU organisers will be visiting Early Years care and education facilities across Westmeath on Tuesday, 9th April, as part of the union’s Big Start Campaign which is aimed at improving the childcare sector for workers, children and their...

A SIPTU representative has said that a major overhaul of how waste services are operated rather than investment in gimmicks such as aerial drones is the way to solve the growing problems concerning waste disposal in Ireland. SIPTU Public Administration and Community...

SIPTU representatives have today (Friday, 29th March) confirmed that more than 7,000 support grade staff will be balloted for strike action next month. The move follows a decision by the SIPTU Support Sector Committee at its Annual General Meeting in...

SIPTU activists will be joining with members in other construction industry unions to protest outside the Irish Construction Excellence awards which are being held in the Mansion House on Dawson Street, Dublin, this evening (Friday, 29th March) at...

SIPTU has warned that vulnerable children are being placed at increased risk due to severe cuts to Early Years services in areas of disadvantage across the country due to the imposition of substantial reductions in funding by the State agency POBAL. SIPTU Head of...

SIPTU has called for the National Minimum Wage (NMW) to be increased from €9.80 to €10.20 next year, as a stage towards the payment of a Living Wage for all workers, in a submission to the Low Pay Commission which was presented at a public...

Union representatives, including SIPTU organisers, have called on the building materials group CRH to fully comply with Irish and EU legalisation concerning the operation of European Works Councils at a conference in Dublin which concluded today...

The SIPTU Mayo District Council will launch its new Welcome Centre and host a presentation event for long-serving union activists at the SIPTU offices on Moneen Road, Castlebar on Thursday, 28th March, at 6.30 p.m. Among those who will address the...

Trade unions representing over 30,000 local council workers today (Wednesday, 27th March) launched a campaign for substantially increased revenue and funding powers for local authorities, and published research that shows Irish councils have less...

SIPTU Nursing representatives have today (Monday 25th March) presented their case in the Labour Court for a fair contract for all nurses and midwives. SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said: “SIPTU representatives put forward a robust...

SIPTU members employed by the FAI are demanding an explanation of why they had to endure pay cuts during a period when it is reported the organisation decided to begin paying the rent of its former CEO John Delaney. SIPTU Sport Sector Organiser, Denis...

SIPTU representatives have today called for better protections for all dock workers following the tragic death yesterday (Thursday, 21st March) of a young Latvian seafarer in Europort in Rosslare, county Wexford. SIPTU Ports, Docks and Harbour...

Over 100 Community Employment (CE)supervisors discussed an escalation in their industrial action aimed at forcing the Government to implement a Labour Court recommendation regarding their right to a pension, at a meeting in the Midlands Hotel in...

SIPTU representatives have informed management that its proposal to close a ward in University Hospital Limerick, without consultation with unions, will constitute a breach of the terms of the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA). SIPTU...

SIPTU representatives have confirmed that members working in the Education Sector will be supporting the #FundTheFuture protest tomorrow (Thursday, 21st March), in higher education campuses across the country. SIPTU Education Sector Organiser, Karl...

The ITF has called for the immediate payment of all monies due to them and assistance to return home for a group of Indonesian fishers who have been stranded in Dingle, County Kerry, since Monday, 11th March, when they left their vessel due to...

SIPTU members will be supporting the strike by school students and associated events across the country tomorrow (Friday, 15th March) as part of a global day of action by young people protesting at the lack of response by world leaders to tackling climate...

The National Executive Council of SIPTU has expressed its deep concern at the economic, political and social implications for workers in Ireland of a ‘no deal’, hard or disorganised Brexit. Following a meeting of the NEC at Liberty Hall,...

The threat by the British government of punitive tariffs on Irish products entering the UK in the event of a no deal Brexit, has been described as unacceptable by SIPTU deputy general secretary for the private sector, Gerry McCormack. Tens of thousands of...

Members of the SIPTU Nursing and Midwifery Sector Committee have today (Tuesday, 12th March) sought to refer proposals for the introduction of an enhanced Nursing and Midwifery contract to the Labour Court. Speaking after the lengthy meeting today in Liberty...

SIPTU members working in Liebherr Container Cranes Ltd. Killarney, Co Kerry have today (Tuesday, 12th March) confirmed that they have served notice of industrial action at the company. The decision comes following the result of a ballot held on...

SIPTU members in the Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) have today (Monday, 11th March) renewed their call for a full risk assessment of properties built or extended from approximately 2000 to 2014 due to the large number of fire safety issues discovered in a recent...

SIPTU Health Division representatives have confirmed that talks between unions and health service management on an enhanced nursing and midwifery contract, concluded last night (Sunday, 10th March) without agreement at the Workplace Relations Commission....

A major protest rally on the housing emergency is to take place at Cork City Hall on Monday, March 11. The rally will see trade unions, political parties, women’s groups, student unions, housing agencies and community groups join...

The SIPTU Education Sector has launched a campaign to fight precarious work in higher and further education following a meeting of workers from across the country to mark International Women’s Day in Liberty Hall, Dublin 1, today (Friday, 8th...

SIPTU representatives have today (Thursday, 7th March) called for the JobPath employment activation scheme to be brought to a swift end after it emerged that in some cases job seekers have gone through the process three times without success. SIPTU Sector...

The Musicians Union of Ireland (MUI) is calling on its members to attend a protest in support of the call for a boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest, to be held by Israel in 2019, which will take place outside of RTÉ Studios in Donnybrook,...

SIPTU representatives have today (Thursday, 7th March) called for the JobPath employment activation scheme to be brought to a swift end after it emerged that in some cases job seekers have gone through the process three times without success. SIPTU Sector...