News Archive

Speaking at the Union’s Education Sector AGM and in advance of the publication of the Government’s Spring Statement next week, SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor, has called for public spending to be prioritised over tax cuts on...

SIPTU representatives are seeking an urgent meeting with the management of Ladbrokes Ireland to discuss the implications of the bookmaker being placed into examinership after an application to the High Court today (Tuesday, 21st April). SIPTU Sector...

SIPTU Drivers employed by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann are to engage in four days of strike action during May, following a refusal by the management of both companies to meet with workers to discuss their major concerns over plans to privatise 10% of bus...

Former Ulster Bank workers are staging a lunchtime protest today, Wednesday, 15th April at Ulster Bank Head Quarters, Georges Quay, Dublin 2 to highlight the non-implementation of a Labour Court recommendation in relation to their redundancy...

SIPTU has deferred notice of industrial action at University Hospital Galway (UHG), Galway city, pending implementation of an agreement for the facility to secure additional nurses and support staff cover. SIPTU Organiser Mark Lohan said: “This...

A survey of the working lives of the under 35s, conducted by the Young Workers Network (YWN), has revealed that nearly 90% struggle to make ends meet with zero hour contracts and low pay the norm for many. Other findings of the ‘Working Hours and Pay...

A SIPTU member’s claim against Ard Eoin Kickhams GAC for failure to pay her statutory redundancy entitlements will be heard by the Industrial Tribunal in Belfast on Friday, 17th April. The case involves the Belfast GAA club’s former bar...

SIPTU Bus Drivers will consider issuing formal notice of industrial action on Friday, 24th April, if their concerns have not been adequately addressed at meetings with other stakeholders in the dispute over attempts to privatise 10% of public bus services....

SIPTU has called for a full clinical review by an agreed independent expert to examine and validate proposals for the operation of a new psychiatric unit on the campus of Cork University Hospital, Cork City. SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul...

SIPTU Bus Drivers in Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann have voted by over 90%, in both companies, in favour of industrial action and strike action in a ballot counted this afternoon (Friday, 10th April) in Liberty Hall, Dublin 1. The ballot...

SIPTU has demanded urgent action by the Government to end the imposition of zero-hour contracts on home helps working for voluntary sector organisations which are funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to provide public health care schemes. SIPTU Health Division...

SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor, has stated that the struggle of Dunnes Stores workers for decent jobs and against low hour contracts is one that is critical to the defence of the living standards of all workers in Ireland. This...

Irish Equity passed a motion at its Annual General Meeting on Sunday, 29th March, calling for a moratorium on proposed cuts to the funding of the cultural sector in Northern Ireland. The motion also sent “solidarity and support” to the members...

SIPTU members in Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus will meet tomorrow (Tuesday, 31st March) to consider balloting for industrial action following the breakdown of talks, facilitated by the Labour Relations Commission (LRC), on plans to privatise 10%...

The SIPTU Meath District Council endorsed the union’s ‘Yes Equality’ campaign for marriage equality at a meeting in the Dan Shaw Centre, Navan, county Meath, on Tuesday, 24th March. The meeting heard presentations on the...

SIPTU members working as bus drivers for Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann are to ballot for strike action following a threat to privatise 10% of routes without the agreement of workers. SIPTU Utilities and Construction Division Organiser, Owen Reidy,...

SIPTU members employed at Toughers Restaurant in Carlow, county Carlow, have expressed shock at the sudden closure of the restaurant and the liquidation of its parent company. SIPTU Organiser, Denis Hynes, said: “I will be meeting with...

SIPTU has called upon all workers to support their colleagues in Mandate trade union who are on strike at Dunnes Stores across the country today, Thursday, 2nd April, by not shopping at the retailer. SIPTU Services Division Organiser, John...

Political and trade union activists from across the island attended a one-day conference on the future of Palestine in Liberty Hall on Saturday, 28th March. Among those who addressed the conference, entitled ‘Where Now for the Two State Solution...

SIPTU members have stated that a proposal received from the management of Aer Lingus, today (Monday, 30th March), in relation to the guaranteeing of workers’ terms and conditions of employment in the event of a take over by IAG, does not...

SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor, has warned that a rigid interpretation of EU budgetary rules risked strangling Ireland’s fragile economic recovery and must now be handled flexibly by the European Commission. “If the Government...

A leading advocate for children in Gaza who was to invited to speak at a conference on Palestine in Dublin tomorrow has been refused a visa by the Israeli authorities. Dr Mona El Farra, projects director of the Middle East Children’s Alliance has refused a...

SIPTU has launched a new Health Care Sector at a conference in Dublin which was addressed by the Minister for Health Leo Varadkar today. Sector Organiser Marie Butler said that the new sector for health care assistants has been set up in response to the growing demand...

SIPTU representatives have indicated their support for the reopening of the Lagan Brick production plant in Drumgill, Kingscourt, county Cavan, following the signing of a pre-production agreement with the company this afternoon (Wednesday, 25th...

The director of a children’s charity in Gaza has been unable to travel to Ireland to address a conference on Palestine later this week due to Israeli security restrictions and the closure of the Rafah access to Egypt. Dr Mona El Farra, the projects...

Pay increases for workers will provide the stimulus necessary to cement the economic recovery, SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor has said. Speaking on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics programme on Sunday (22nd March), O’Connor said:...

SIPTU members in the Retained Fire Services voted overwhelmingly for industrial action, including strike action, in a dispute related to attempts to decrease fire appliance crewing levels, at ballots counted today (Friday, 20th March) in...

SIPTU members in the full-time fire service are to ballot for industrial in a dispute resulting from an attempt by the Department of Environment to reduce the crew numbers on fire appliances. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Brendan O’Brien, said: “At a...

The SIPTU NEC statement of 21st November 2014 concluded: “In the absence of a declaration by the Government of its intention to provide every household with an adequate supply of water to meet all its domestic needs, at no direct cost, while...

SIPTU members working in the Central Mental Hospital, Dublin, have secured a compensation package valued at over €2 million resulting from a management re-configuration of hospital services that led to an erosion of workers’ terms and...

SIPTU members are taking strike action at St. Leo’s College in Carlow, county Carlow, today (Friday, 13th March) as part of a dispute relating to their employer’s failure to establish an appropriate workplace pension scheme. Pickets have...

SIPTU Waterford District Council unanimously endorsed the union’s ‘Yes Equality’ campaign for marriage equality at a meeting in Connolly Hall, Waterford City, on Thursday, 12th March. The meeting heard presentations on the reasons...

A presentation on the case for a ‘Yes’ vote and the key issues involved in the Civil Marriage Equality Referendum will be made at a meeting of the SIPTU Waterford District Council in Connolly Hall, county Waterford, this evening (12th March) at...

SIPTU members support the decision of Pfizer to continue production at its Little Island plant, county Cork, and provide continued job security for up to 160 workers. Staff at the facility were informed yesterday (Tuesday, 10th March) that the...

A presentation on the case for a ‘Yes’ vote and the key issues involved in the Civil Marriage Equality referendum will be made at a meeting of the SIPTU Kilkenny District Council in the SIPTU Regional Office, Patrick Street, Kilkenny,...

SIPTU has acknowledged the joint statement this afternoon (Monday, 9th March) from members of the Haddington Road Agreement National Oversight Committee concerning the establishment of an independently chaired joint forum to discuss the future of the Dublin Fire...

Members of the US fast-food workers’ movement ‘Fight for $15’will address a public meeting in Wynn’s Hotel, Abbey Street, Dublin 1, on Wednesday, 11th March at 6.00 p.m. The meeting, organised by the Young...

A presentation on the case for a 'Yes' vote and the key issues involved in the Civil Marriage Equality Referendum will be made at a meeting of the SIPTU Cavan District Council in the SIPTU Offices, Cavan Town, county Cavan, at 7.30 p.m. on...

SIPTU members in the Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) will ballot for industrial action in response to an attempt to remove their ambulance service call and dispatch function and place it under the control of the HSE. The decision to commence a ballot of members immediately...

SIPTU members support the decision of the Nurses and Midwives Board of Ireland (NMBI) to end its attempt to increase its annual retention fee, for nurses and midwives, by 50% for 2015. Sector Organiser, Kevin Figgis, said: “This decision...

SIPTU members employed to provide catering services at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) will commence a ballot this evening (Wednesday, 4th March), for strike action in a dispute over pay and conditions. SIPTU Organiser, Denis Hynes,...

SIPTU has called for the Government to empower the Labour Court to set fair employment rules for low paid workers in sectors where employers have refused to engage in the Joint Labour Committee (JLC) process. In an address to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Jobs...

SIPTU has called on the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, to immediately release the capacity review into the National Ambulance Service. Speaking today at the Labour Party Conference in Killarney, SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul...

SIPTU members employed by G4S Secure Solutions Limited will take strike action tomorrow (Tuesday, 3rd March) to protect their jobs supplying security services as part of a contract with South Dublin County Council (SDCC). SIPTU Organiser Peadar Nolan said:...

SIPTU members have voted to support an agreement with management relating to redundancies and changes to work practices arising from the merger of Drogheda, East Meath and Trim credit unions. SIPTU Services Division Organiser, John King, said:...

SIPTU members in the community sector are to ballot for industrial action following the refusal of the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government to engage with them on issues including redundancy and the transfer of undertakings. SIPTU Sector...

Workers in the Bord na Móna Finance Shares Services and Feedstock sections have agreed to defer placing notice of strike action on the company and enter into a period of intensive negotiations with management concerning restructuring proposals. Bord na...

SIPTU representatives are seeking an urgent meeting with the management of Mondelez Ireland following the company’s announcement that it intends to implement up to 160 redundancies at its plants in Coolock, county Dublin, and Rathmore, county...

SIPTU members in the Bose plant in Carrickmacross, county Monaghan, have voted overwhelmingly in favour of redundancy terms proposed by the company. SIPTU Organiser, Jim Mc Veigh, said the redundancy proposals emerged after several weeks of...

SIPTU members in the north-east have called on the Health Service Executive (HSE) to re-think its proposal to cut a further €800,000 from the budget for elderly services in Co. Meath. According to SIPTU Organiser, John McCamley, the proposed cut...

The SIPTU Academic Stewards Committee at NUI Galway has expressed its support for colleagues at St Angela’s College in Sligo who have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action over the demotion of staff. Lecturers at St Angela’s have been told that they...

SIPTU members have agreed to attend further talks at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) to try to resolve a dispute affecting security members employed by G4S Secure Solutions Limited at South Dublin County Council (SDCC) sites. The dispute centres on the failure...

SIPTU will host a Polish Cultural Night in the Liberty Hall Auditorium on the 26th March 2015 to mark the PolskaÉire Festival. Speaking today at the launch of PolskaÉire Festival, in the Aviva Stadium, Minister of State for New...

A presentation on the case for a ‘Yes’ vote and the key issues involved in the Civil Marriage Equality Referendum will be made at a meeting of the SIPTU Cork District Council in Connolly Hall, Lapps Quay, Cork, at 6.00 p.m. tonight...

SIPTU members share the public’s concern over the impact on rural communities of the proposal to cut almost 100 Bus Éireann services, including in the south-east, the west and north-west, that was revealed today (Monday, 23rd...

Former Labour TD and senior ITGWU official Frank Prendergast, was buried today (Monday, 23rd February) in his native Limerick. The 81-year-old, who has twice served as Mayor of Limerick, died following a battle with cancer last Thursday (17th...

SIPTU has warned that the only long term solution to the ongoing hospital overcrowding and outpatient waiting list crisis is major Government investment in the recruitment of more front line health care workers. Responding to the speech by the Minister for...

SIPTU firefighters protesting against cuts to the crewing levels of fire appliances which they believe endanger public safety, will march in Dublin on Tuesday (24th February). The march of both full-time and retained firefighters will begin in Parnell Square at...

SIPTU representatives will enter into discussions with management at UPC Ireland following the telecommunications company’s announcement that it is to implement 170 redundancies at five facilities as part of a restructuring plan. SIPTU Organiser, Dennis...

SIPTU proposals to alleviate the housing crisis were the focus of lively debate at a meeting in the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan, county Meath, last-night (Wednesday, 18th February). Among the options presented for consideration to an audience of...

SIPTU members working in the community sector held a protest outside the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government today (Wednesday, 18th February) to highlight the Department’s drive to privatise community social inclusion...

SIPTU has rejected claims that the merger of Drogheda, East Meath and Trim credit unions is being held up by workers stating that any delay in the process is due to an unwillingness of management to engage with staff representatives or the State’s...

A presentation on the case for a Yes vote and the key issues involved in the Civil Marriage Equality Referendum will be made at the meeting of the SIPTU Wexford District Council in the union’s offices, Coolcotts, Wexford Town, on at 7.30 p.m....

SIPTU has expressed support for the Government decision to extend by one year the period within which public servants can retire under the terms which they held prior to pay reductions implemented under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI)...

SIPTU representatives are seeking an urgent meeting with Aer Lingus management following an announcement this morning (Thursday, 12th February) that up to 80 jobs are under threat in the company’s supply chain and catering sections. SIPTU Organiser,...

SIPTU members employed as security officers by G4S Secure Solutions Limited on a contract to supply security services to South Dublin County Council have served strike notice on their employer in a dispute concerning transfer of undertakings regulations. The workers...

SIPTU members at aviation firm, PWAI International Ltd. (PWAI), in Rathcoole, county Dublin, are seeking funds from the European Globalisation Fund for the training and upskilling of workers who are due to lose their jobs when the plant closes...

SIPTU members at St Leo’s College in county Carlow have voted in favour of industrial action after management refused to provide support staff with an adequate workplace pension. According to SIPTU organiser, Bill Mulcahy, the decision to take...

A presentation on the case for a Yes vote and the key issues involved in the Civil Marriage Equality Referendum will be made at the meeting of the SIPTU Kildare District Council in the union’s offices, George Street, Newbridge, county...

SIPTU members at NUI Galway have expressed “deep disappointment” at the process to appoint a taskforce to investigate gender discrimination in the college. In a statement the SIPTU NUI Galway Academic Committee said: "This task force has been chosen...

SIPTU members have strongly criticised the procedures surrounding the proposed establishment of a taskforce to investigate gender inequality at NUI Galway, following cases of discrimination at the institution that have been highlighted by the Equality Tribunal....

SIPTU has stated its support for measures being introduced by the Government to protect precarious workers from exploitation and ensure that the minimum wage is set at a fair level. The Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and...

Workers in the Bord na Móna Finance Shared Services Departments have voted by four to one for industrial action due to a company refusal to suspend a process of eliminating existing jobs and replacing them with ones on lesser pay terms and conditions of...

SIPTU Meath District Council will host a public meeting on the impact of the housing crisis on the commuter belt in the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan, county Meath on Wednesday, 18th February at 7.00 p.m. The event will be addressed by housing expert and...

SIPTU members at the Bose plant in Carrickmacross, county Monaghan, have welcomed an agreement by management to extend its proposed closure by two months until June this year. At a meeting with company representatives from the US and Ireland today it was...

A presentation on the case for a Yes vote and the key issues involved in the Civil Marriage Equality Referendum will be made at the meeting of the SIPTU Galway District Council in the union’s Galway office on Wednesday, 11th February at 6.45 p.m. Those who...

SIPTU members working in the community sector are to commence a ballot on protective industrial action to counter the threat of major jobs losses in the sector and to hold a ‘day of action’ on Wednesday, 18th February. The day of action will include...

SIPTU full-time firefighters will resist any attempt to reduce crew numbers on fire appliances and have committed to supporting their colleagues in the retained fire service in their campaign of opposition to this change. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Brendan...

SIPTU has stated its support for Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ged Nash, in his criticism of the ‘boycott’ by employers in the hotel sector of the JLC process. SIPTU Services Division...

SIPTU has called on the management of Pallas Foods to meet with its workers’ representatives to discuss a threat to make 65 people redundant at the company’s distribution depot in Newcastlewest, county Limerick. SIPTU Organiser, Pat...

SIPTU supports an agreement between health unions and management, facilitated by the Labour Relations Commission (LRC), to significantly increase nursing resources to the University of Limerick (UL) Hospital Group. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Tony Kenny...

SIPTU supports a decision of the Emergency Department Taskforce to ensure Home Helps have a minimum of 30 minutes with each client in which essential care can be provided. SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said: “The SIPTU Home Helps...

SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor has said that in the coming months his union will embark on a major campaign for pay increases of 5% across the economy. In a speech at Glasnevin Cemetery today (Saturday 31st January) to mark the commemoration of the...

SIPTU members in the Retained Fire Services are to ballot for industrial/strike action following a directive issued in January by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government under its “Keeping Communities Safe” (KCS) initiative....

SIPTU has called on the Government to request that Bose senior management commit to an extension of the proposed closure date of the company’s plant in Carrickmacross, county Monaghan, so work can take place on a survival plan. SIPTU Organiser,...

SIPTU representatives will meet with senior management of the Bose Corporation on Thursday (28th January) to discuss the threatened closure of the audio systems manufacturer’s plant in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan. SIPTU Organiser, Jim...

The Bord na Móna Group of Unions and management at the semi-state company will attend a conciliation meeting at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) in Dublin on Thursday (29th January). The meeting will discuss a dispute at Bord na Móna concerning...

SIPTU General President, Jack O’ Connor has welcomed the decisive victory of Syriza in the Greek general election. He said: “We welcome the historic decision of the Greek people in today’s (Sunday, 25th January) general election. The...

SIPTU has called on the Government to block the sale of Aer Lingus to International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) unless guarantees are secured in relation to the strategic interests of the country and workers conditions of employment. SIPTU Utilities and...

SIPTU's National Executive Committee today called on members of the union to vote ‘Yes’ in the forthcoming Referendum on Marriage Equality Commenting on the decision, SIPTU Campaigns and Equality Organiser, Ethel Buckley,...

SIPTU has called on the Government to immediately end the effective veto over the progressing of Joint Labour Committees (JLCs) which employers groups are using to consign tens of thousands of workers to poverty. SIPTU Services Division Organiser, John...

SIPTU representatives will meet with management at the Bose manufacturing plant in Carrickmacross, county Monaghan, on Monday (26th January) to discuss the threatened closure of the facility. SIPTU Organiser, Jim McVeigh, said: “The...

SIPTU has congratulated the union’s current Vice President, Patricia King, following the announcement that she has been appointed as the new General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. Speaking on behalf of the union, SIPTU General...

SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor, has called on the Central Bank not to proceed with plans requiring homebuyers to have a 20% deposit in place before being approved for a home loan. According to reports, the Central Bank is due to decide...

The SIPTU Community Sector has stated that the decision by South Dublin County Council (SDCC) to maintain Community Employment and Job Initiative Scheme payments on a weekly basis is in the best interests of participants. SIPTU Organiser, Karen Smollen,...

Unions have welcomed a call from the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) to enter into talks aimed at resolving a dispute arising from the Board’s attempt to increase its fee by 50%. Unions have...

SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, told over 100 health workers protesting outside Leinster House this afternoon (Wednesday, 14th January) that an immediate increase in Home Help services is critical to solving the overcrowding crisis in our...

SIPTU has called on the HSE to immediately release a capacity review of the National Ambulance Service that was commissioned last year following concerns raised by workers that the service is inadequately resourced. SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul...

Members of the Bord na Móna Group of Unions have called on the company to implement a proposed pay rise of 3.5% and end its attacks on their terms and conditions of employment at general meetings of workers in Tullamore, county Offaly, on the...

SIPTU has called on the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, to immediately increase funding to HSE Home Care services in order to tackle the issue of delayed discharge and overcrowding of patients across the public hospital network. SIPTU Health Division...