News Archive

SIPTU representatives are seeking an immediate meeting with the management of Roche Holding AG to discuss the threatened job losses at the company’s plant in Clarecastle, County Clare. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Alan O’Leary, said:...

SIPTU members working as Support Staff in Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway, will engage in a two-hour work stoppage from 2.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. tomorrow (Friday 13th November) in protest at a unilateral decision by management to begin...

SIPTU local authority members providing services for Irish Water began balloting for industrial action yesterday (Monday, 9th November) in a dispute related to an attempt by management to unilaterally cut the numbers of frontline water workers. The decision to...

SIPTU has agreed to a request by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to refer the dispute at Irish Rail to the Labour Court. SIPTU Organiser, Paul Cullen, said: “Following a request by the WRC that this dispute be immediately referred to the...

SIPTU has condemned proposals by the Bank of Ireland to restrict cash transactions in branches saying that they amount to an attack on the elderly who are one of the most vulnerable sections of society. National Secretary of the SIPTU Retired Members Section,...

SIPTU members have welcomed proposals by the new owners of Arnotts to maintain and develop the iconic Henry Street retail business. Responding to confirmation this evening that Wittington Propertys and Selfridges, which are controlled by Brown Thomas...

SIPTU Services Division Organiser, Ethel Buckley has welcomed the report on Zero Hour contracts, undertaken by the University of Limerick (UL), which highlights the severe forms of exploitation in many employments across the country. “Our...

SIPTU has called on the Minister for Agriculture and the Marine, Simon Coveney, to introduce employment protection legislation, proper training and rigorous inspection processes for migrant workers employed in the fishing industry. SIPTU Divisional...

SIPTU President, Jack O’Connor has said that a well-designed system of rent controls can help to stem the tide of homelessness in Ireland. “Ireland is experiencing a housing crisis that is worsening each week with spiralling rents,...

Former Clerys workers protested outside the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation on Kildare Street, Dublin 2, this afternoon (Tuesday, 27th October), to highlight their call for a change in the law to ensure no other workers can...

SIPTU has stated that a decision by the High Court to overturn planning permission for the continued operation of the Bord na Móna power plant in Edenderry, Co. Offaly, must not result in compulsory redundancies. SIPTU Organiser and Bord na...

SIPTU has called on the management of Irish Rail to engage constructively with unions on commitments on past productivity it entered into in previous agreements with workers. SIPTU Organiser, Paul Cullen, said: “Following a three hour work stoppage...

Talks on the dispute in Irish Rail, where industrial action is due to take commence on Friday 23rd October, will resume at 11.30 a.m. this morning. SIPTU Organiser, Paul Cullen said that despite the marathon all night discussions Irish Rail...

The SIPTU Dublin District Council hosted a seminar on the housing crisis in Liberty Hall, Dublin 1, on Monday (19th October) during which housing activists and academics called on the council to take a leading role in the campaign to end homelessness in...

SIPTU has accepted an offer to resume talks tomorrow (Tuesday, 20th October) at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in an effort to find a resolution to a dispute concerning train drivers in Irish Rail. SIPTU Organiser, Paul Cullen, said:...

SIPTU train drivers have expressed disappointment at the failure of the management of Irish Rail to adequately address the issue of past productivity which led to the breakdown of talks at the Workplace Rights Commission (WRC) that were aimed at resolving the dispute...

SIPTU members working as security guards at the Shell gas terminal in Bellanaboy, county Mayo, are conducting a 12-hour work stoppage tomorrow (Monday, 19th October) in a dispute related to the unilateral implementation of job losses and reduced...

SIPTU has criticised the failure of the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, in Budget 2016 to end the preferential 9% VAT rate enjoyed by the profitable hotel and restaurant sector that includes many businesses that are exploiting low paid workers. SIPTU...

Budget 2016 contains a number of positive measures that will see workers make the first real financial gains from a budget in almost eight years, according to SIPTU researcher, Ger Gibbons. The public spending commitments, including the restoration...

SIPTU members have welcomed the HSE decision to attend conciliation at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to try to resolve a dispute over its failure to fill vacant nursing posts on a permanent basis in two community units in County Meath. St. Joseph's...

SIPTU has agreed to attend conciliation talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) on Monday (12th October) concerning the dispute at Irish Rail arising from the company’s failure to discuss and address past productivity issues. SIPTU Organiser,...

SIPTU has called for an urgent and wide-ranging fire safety audit of properties due to the number of serious breaches being discovered in buildings across the country. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Brendan O’Brien, said: “For several years we have...

SIPTU train drivers in Irish Rail will undertake two three-hour work stoppages as part of a campaign of industrial action which results from the company reneging on a commitment to discuss past productivity. At a meeting this afternoon (Thursday, 8th October)...

The SIPTU National Delegate Biennial Conference on Thursday (8th October) voted to support a once-off, time-bound regularisation scheme for undocumented migrants in Ireland. Delegates voted unanimously in favour of a motion proposed by the SIPTU Equality...

The SIPTU National Delegate Biennial Conference has today (Thursday, 8th October) called for the centenary of the Easter Rising to be marked by a major campaign to make 2016 the year for the creation of a Palestinian state. SIPTU National Executive Council...

The SIPTU National Delegate Biennial Conference has voted this afternoon (Wednesday, 7th October) for a review to be undertaken of the use of the union’s political fund with the aim of producing a report on possible changes to be discussed at a Special...

The SIPTU National Delegate Biennial Conference has condemned the lack of action by the management of NUI Galway to counter problems related to discrimination and precarious working conditions at the university. Delegates unanimously voted in support of an emergency...

The SIPTU National Delegate Biennial Conference has called for a review of protections for workers from violence and aggression in the workplace. SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said: “Delegates voted unanimously to support a motion...

SIPTU has stated that it will resist a plan by the management of Irish Water to implement 1,200 redundancies at the State owned company as it is a clear move towards its future privatisation and an unacceptable breach of agreements on the operation of the...

The Bord na Móna Group of Unions has expressed disappointment at the company’s announcement that it is to phase out the harvesting of peat for energy and the lack of consultation with workers concerning the move. Bord na Móna Group of Unions...

SIPTU President, Jack O’Connor has announced that the union is to organise a major campaign against low wages and exploitative work practices and contracts. ‌In his opening address to the SIPTU Biennial Delegate Conference in City Hall, Cork...

SIPTU train drivers in Irish Rail have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action in a dispute which results from the company reneging on a commitment to discuss past productivity. SIPTU Organiser, Paul Cullen, said: “The result of this ballot,...

The SIPTU Biennial National Delegate Conference takes place in City Hall, Cork, from Monday, 5th October to Thursday, 8th October. The conference will debate motions on the economy, the housing crisis, health, pensions,...

SIPTU members in Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) have this afternoon (Friday, 2nd October) accepted Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) proposals on a recruitment plan that will see numbers in the service brought up to safe minimum manning levels within an agreed...

SIPTU members working in the cash-in-transit section of Brinks Ireland have this afternoon (Friday, 1st October) voted overwhelmingly in favour of a new agreement with management. SIPTU Organiser, Brendan Carr, said: “This new agreement will...

SIPTU members have secured the signing into law today (Thursday, 1st October) of two new Employment Regulation Orders (ERO) for the contract cleaning and security sectors which will protect pay and conditions for up to 45,000 low paid workers. The...

SIPTU has called on the board of management of the Roscommon Leisure Centre to respond to a request for its representatives to attend a meeting of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) to discuss a dispute concerning workers’ wages. SIPTU Organiser, Sandra...

SIPTU members will consider a Labour Court request that an independent financial assessment of the company which operates the LUAS light rail network is undertaken prior to them proceeding with a claim for improvements to their terms and condtions of employment. SIPTU...

SIPTU members working as social care workers and social care leaders in the Brothers of Charity and Ability West services, county Galway, have suspended a campaign of industrial action which began earlier this month. SIPTU Health Division Organiser,...

SIPTU has called on the management of the Roscommon Leisure Centre to respond to a request for it to attend a meeting of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) to discuss a dispute concerning workers’ wages. SIPTU Organiser, Sandra Flanagan, said:...

Representatives of the SIPTU Cavan-Monaghan District Committee met with local Fine Gael TD, Joe O’Reilly, to discuss the union’s proposal for a progressive alternative to the Universal Social Charge (USC) and the ICTU Pre-Budget Submission at a...

SIPTU has condemned the plan by the Department of Social Protection to redefine the operation of the the Rural Social Scheme (RSS), making it into a job activation measure, as a further attack on rural Ireland. SIPTU Organiser, Noreen Parker,...

SIPTU members working as social care workers and social care leaders in County Galway will vote on a proposal tabled by the HSE to resolve a dispute concerning the payment of monies owed to them for evening work. SIPTU Organiser, Mark Lohan, said:...

Former Clerys workers and their supporters protested outside the department store on O’Connell Street, Dublin, at lunchtime today (Friday, 18th September) to highlight their demand that the new owners of the business meet with them. The workers...

SIPTU members in Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) have served notice that industrial action will commence on Monday, 5th October, due to the failure of Dublin City Council to maintain agreed minimum safety critical staffing levels. SIPTU Sector Organiser,...

SIPTU train drivers in Irish Rail will commence a ballot for industrial action on Monday, 21st September, following the company’s reneging on a commitment to reward past productivity increases. The decision to ballot for industrial action was taken...

SIPTU representatives joined a 72-hour vigil by disability campaigners outside Government Buildings, today (Tuesday, 15th September), highlighting the impact of cuts on services. The protest is focused on a range of issues, including the...

A ‘trade union day’ will take place in NUI Galway on Wednesday, 23rd September, focusing on discrimination and precarious employment at the university. The day will highlight how unions at NUI Galway are spearheading the fight against...

The ICTU and SIPTU have said that a European Court ruling on Thursday (10th September), which found that travel time for employees with no fixed place of work should be counted as part of their working day, could benefit many workers in Ireland. ICTU...

SIPTU members working as social care workers and social care leaders in County Galway have called on the Minister of Health, Leo Varadkar, to honour a Labour Relations Commission (LRC) proposal in a dispute concerning the payment of monies owed to them for...

SIPTU has criticised the management of Irish Rail for its refusal to discuss past productivity increases by workers which led to the breakdown of talks between the company and unions at the Labour Relations Commission last night (Tuesday, 8th September). SIPTU...

Mandate and SIPTU trade unions have today (Wednesday, 9th September) agreed to negotiations with the owner of Boyers department store on Talbot Street, Dublin, on the orderly wind down of the company. Mandate Official, Jonathan Hogan,...

SIPTU and IFUT have expressed outrage at the refusal by management at NUI Galway to attend a meeting at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) to discuss an equality taskforce it has appointed. At a meeting with union representatives on Friday, 28th August,...

A legal expert with the SIPTU Workers Rights Centre has today (Tuesday, 1st September) been appointed to sit on a Committee of Investigation to oversee the liquidation process of OCS Operations, the company which operated Clerys department store. The...

Former Clerys workers protested outside the offices of the department store’s new owner, Natrium, on North Wall Quay, Dublin 1, at lunchtime today (Friday, 28th August). The workers are calling on the directors of Natrium to meet...

SIPTU has called on the City of Dublin Youth Service Board (CDYSB) to commit to the continued funding of the Ballymun Young Women’s Project in north Dublin. SIPTU Organiser, Karen Smollen, said: “The Ballymun Young Women’s Project has...

SIPTU members in Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) have voted for industrial action, up to and including strike action, in a dispute provoked by a decision of the Chief Executive of Dublin City Council to renege on an agreement on recruiting new firefighters. In...

The SIPTU proposals for a progressive alternative to the Universal Social Charge (USC) were presented at a meeting in the Ardboyne Hotel in Navan, County Meath, on Wednesday (19th August) evening. The SIPTU Meath District Council hosted the meeting and a...

A dispute over pay and conditions in Bord na Móna has been referred to the Labour Court following a break down in negotiations between workers and management at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) yesterday (Thursday, 20th August). Bord na Móna...

Former Clerys workers protested outside the department store on O’Connell Street, Dublin, at lunchtime today (Thursday, 20th August), to highlight the failure of its new owners to meet them in the 10 weeks since they took over the...

The Bord na Móna Group of Unions has deferred a general meeting of its members following confirmation from management, today (Wednesday, 19th August), that it has removed a threat to implement compulsory redundancies at a subsidiary company of...

SIPTU has called for senior Health Service Executive (HSE) officials to urgently intervene to resolve a staffing crisis at two community care units in County Meath which appears to have resulted in beds being left idle. SIPTU Organiser, John McCamley,...

SIPTU is to nominate members to sit on the Joint Labour Committee (JLC) for the agricultural sector following the re-establishment of the body by the Labour Court. SIPTU Manufacturing Division Organiser, Gerry McCormack, said: “Legislation for the...

SIPTU has warned the management of Irish Rail of the possibility of industrial action if it fails to deal with calls by train drivers for adequate compensation for their contribution in significantly increasing productivity at the transport company. SIPTU...

SIPTU has called upon the owners of a convenience store in Ardnaree, Ballina, County Mayo, to respect an Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) ruling and pay eight former employees the monies they are owed. SIPTU Organiser, Robert Purfield,...

The Bord na Móna Group of Unions has informed the company that it intends to recommend a motion of no confidence in the Bord of the semi-state enterprise to its members if a threat to implement compulsory redundancies is not rescinded. Bord na Móna Group...

SIPTU has called on the Government to commit to removing the preferential VAT rate currently enjoyed by the profitable hotel and restaurant sector that includes many businesses that are exploiting low paid workers. SIPTU Division Organiser, John King,...

SIPTU has stated its support for the announcement today (Tuesday, 11th August) by the Minister for Business and Employment, Ged Nash, that a Forum on the Living Wage will be held in Dublin Castle on Wednesday, 30th September. SIPTU Division...

SIPTU has called for a review of the conduct of investigations and the use of administrative leave by the management of the St. Anne’s Centre for people with intellectual disabilities, Roscrea, County Tipperary. The call follows the completion of a...

SIPTU has called on the Department of Social Protection to review the use of JobBridge in the Education Sector stating that its implementation will result in the displacement of workers. SIPTU Education Sector Organiser, Louise O’Reilly, said:...

SIPTU representatives will meet with workers in Kerry Spring Water in Ballyferriter, County Kerry, early next week following the announcement, last night (Friday, 31st July), that the bottled mineral water company has gone into...

SIPTU members have said they are not surprised at the failure of NUI Galway to secure an Athena Swan award for gender equality policies in higher education in light of the number of outstanding issues concerning discrimination at the third level institution. SIPTU...

SIPTU supports the reported position of the Department of Transport that it is seeking a derogation for Ireland from the EU Commission supported ‘Fourth Railway Package’ which calls for greater market liberalisation and competition within the railway...

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has expressed its support for today’s announcement by the National Apprenticeship Council of Ireland that it plans to extend current apprenticeship schemes to areas such as hospitality, manufacturing, ICT and...

SIPTU representatives have written to local and regional HSE management requesting that it reverses its decision not to fill vacant nursing posts in two community units in County Meath. St Joseph's Hospital in Trim and Beaufort House in Navan have a total of 8.14...

SIPTU has called for funds to be made available immediately to upgrade and increase staff numbers at the St Patrick’s Nursing Home, Carrick-on-Shannon, county Leitrim. SIPTU Organiser, Sandra Flanagan, said: “SIPTU members who work...

SIPTU members in the public service have overwhelmingly accepted the Lansdowne Road proposals following a ballot which was counted today in Liberty Hall, Dublin. Members supported the proposals with 78.5% of votes cast in favour and 21.5% against. SIPTU...

SIPTU has stated that new measures contained in the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2015, which was passed in the Dail this afternoon (Thursday, 16th July), will strengthen the rights of workers in Ireland. SIPTU President, Jack...

SIPTU members at NUI Galway met with the Minister for Education, Jan O’Sullivan, this morning (Wednesday, 15th July) to discuss their demand for an independent taskforce to investigate gender discrimination in the university. The delegation...

SIPTU has urged the management of the National Ambulance Service and the Health Service Executive (HSE) not to introduce the use of the Eircode system for ambulance professionals until the new postcodes have proven to be fit for purpose. SIPTU Health Division...

SIPTU members employed by Ferns Diocesan Youth Service (FDYS) will hold a rally to protest at their treatment by the management of the voluntary organisation, in the Bullring Wexford Town on Saturday, 11th July, between 2.00 p.m. and 4.00 p.m....

SIPTU has entered into talks at the Labour Relation Commission (LRC) with the management of Celtic Linen Ltd concerning plans to implement up to 62 job losses at the company, which is headquartered in Drinagh, County Wexford. SIPTU Organiser, Peader...

The Clerys workers have renewed their call for Natrium, the new owners of the department store, to meet with them to explain their actions which have cost hundreds of jobs. The renewed call was made following the publication of a report, today...

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions said today (Monday, 6th July) that the government must move to ensure company directors can be disqualified if they breach their obligations to their workers. Congress General Secretary Patricia King said that the law must be...

SIPTU, Ireland's largest trade union, has welcomed the decisive rejection of the one sided austerity agenda by the Greek people in today's referendum. The union has also called on the Irish government to act in solidarity with the beleagured...

SIPTU, Ireland's largest trade union, has welcomed the decisive rejection of the one sided austerity agenda by the Greek people in today's referendum. The union has also called on the Irish government to act in solidarity with the beleagured...

SIPTU has expressed alarm at the decline in the number of workplace inspections carried out by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) which was revealed in the agency’s annual report for 2014 published earlier this week. SIPTU Health and Safety Adviser,...

Members in Dublin Fire Brigade are to ballot for industrial/strike action in response to the refusal of the Chief Executive of Dublin City Council, Owen Keegan, to implement an agreement reached in May for the filling of outstanding firefighter...

SIPTU has launched a proposal for “A Progressive Alternative to the Universal Social Charge” (USC). It recommends that a new Social Solidarity Contribution, which would retain all the progressive elements of the existing USC charge as a highly...

SIPTU has called on Ryanair to respect workers’ rights following a ruling by the Labour Court in Denmark that trade union members in that country can take industrial action against the company in order to secure their right to collective bargaining. Following an...

The EU should think hard and long before pushing Greece out of the Eurozone, European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) General Secretary Bernadette Ségol has warned. “Decisions by the ECB and Eurogroup Finance Ministers are pushing Greece towards...

The Clerys workers have voiced their support for the decision of Dublin City Council to endorse a number of motions condemning their treatment and extend the protection of the specific use of the store on O’Connell Street, Dublin. SIPTU shop steward,...

SIPTU members working in the Our Lady's Unit in the Saint Patrick's Centre, County Kilkenny, had highlighted deficiencies in its operation to the management of the facility prior to it being de-registered and taken under the control of Health...

Patients on the waiting list for kidney and pancreas transplants are to hold a meeting in Liberty Hall, Dublin tomorrow (Saturday, 27th June) to discuss the failure of the Health Service Executive (HSE) to provide essential treatment and procedures since...

A SIPTU petition calling on the new owners of Clerys to meet with the former staff of the department store has received over 14,000 signatures since it was launched six days ago. SIPTU Campaigns and Equality Organiser, Ethel Buckley, said:...

Members of the international trade union movement signed the Clerys workers' petition, on Tuesday, 23rd June, outside the department store in O’Connell Street, Dublin. Trade unionists from Belgium, France, the UK,...

Protest outside the head office of D2 Private, Harcourt Terrace, Dublin 2, Friday 19th June at 12.00 p.m. D2 Private is a part owner of Natrium, the consortium that bought Clerys on Friday (12th June). Following the purchase of the store,...

SIPTU members employed in Clerys department store have collected over 5,000 signatures from members of the public and politicians for their petition demanding that the new owners of the premises meet with them. The petition, which was only started on...

SIPTU members employed at the swimming pool in Maynooth University, Co. Kildare, have called on the college administration to reverse its decision to close the facility. The workers met today (Tuesday, 16th June) to discuss their response to the...

A rally by SIPTU members employed in Clerys department store and their supporters on O’Connell Street, Dublin, at lunchtime on Tuesday, 16th June, received overwhelming support from the public. Over 1,000 people attended the...