News Archive

SIPTU representatives will attend an emergency meeting at 4.30 p.m. today (Friday, 24th January) with the joint provisional liquidators appointed to the Mount Carmel Hospital, Dublin, by the High Court. SIPTU Organiser, Kevin Figgis,...

SIPTU members at the Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork (UCC) will intensify industrial action over the coming days in a dispute of over pay inequality. SIPTU Organiser, Bill Mulcahy, said: “Following on from a one day work...

SIPTU Vice-President, Patricia King, has welcomed the publication of the ‘Review of Apprenticeship Training’ which proposes the development of an expanded dual-system of education in Ireland, combining on-the-job and class-based training....

Broadcaster, Joe Duffy, was presented with a specially commissioned trade union badge from 1913 to mark his contribution to the commemorations of the Dublin Lockout. The badge, based on the design of the 1913 version issued to union members by Jim...

SIPTU members have placed pickets at the Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork (UCC) today (Tuesday, 21st January) since 7.00 a.m. and concluding at 6.00 p.m. The dispute concerns the pay inequity which exists between a large number of...

Following yesterday evening’s general meetings of the staff in Aer Lingus and the Dublin Airport Authority it was unanimously decided to conduct immediate ballots for industrial action, including strike action, as a result of the failure of the...

SIPTU Vice-President, Patricia King, has said double standards within the Community and Voluntary (C&V) sector have been exposed with the retirement package of over €740,000 for the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Central...

SIPTU members at Liebherr Container Cranes have rejected a Labour Court Recommendation by means of a secret ballot on Tuesday, 14th January. SIPTU Organiser, Marie Kearney, said: “We are now in the process of considering that decision with our...

SIPTU has called on Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar, to withdraw his claim that a strike by Irish Rail workers in opposition to cost cutting plans is “inevitable”. SIPTU Organiser, Paul Cullen said:...

SIPTU representatives appearing before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications today (Wednesday, 15th January) called for a “real public debate” on the proposed privatisation of up to 10% of Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus...

SIPTU members employed by Resources Facilities Services Ltd at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, voted on Monday, 13th January, to accept Labour Relations Commission (LRC) proposals to end a dispute at the contract cleaning company. The dispute...

James Connolly and the Re-conquest of Ireland by historian Dr. John Callow is an illustrated book which introduces the political ideas of the labour leader drawing on recently discovered documents from the Marx Memorial Library in London. The Jim Connell Society...

SIPTU has demanded that the terms of reference of a forthcoming Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) review into ambulance response times includes consideration of the resourcing of the ambulance service and those which aim for similar targets. SIPTU Health...

The Live Register figures for December 2013, which were published today (Wednesday, 8th January), show a seasonally adjusted monthly fall of 3,300 people signing on but also indicate continued difficulties for women seeking employment,...

SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor, has called on the left to unite in providing a “coherent vision” of how Irish society can move beyond “the culture of the quick buck” which has devastated Irish society towards building...

SIPTU has commended the co-operation between the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) and the Dublin Fire Brigade whose members are engaging in a joint operation in Belfast this afternoon (Friday, 3rd January) in preparation for threatened...

The 100th anniversary of the funeral of Alicia Brady will be commemorated in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin, on Saturday, 4th January, at 2.00 p.m. A member of the Irish Women Workers’ Union, Alicia was among the last people to die as a...

The SIPTU Arts and Culture Sector has welcomed figures from the Irish Film Board which indicate strong growth of the film, television and animation industry during 2013. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Karan O’Loughlin, said: “According to...

The SIPTU Meath District Council has expressed its sincere condolences to the family of Shane Donnelly who was tragically killed in an accident on Sunday (22nd December). The chief administrator at Meath County Council, and former Navan Town Clerk, Shane...

SIPTU has criticised the decision by the management of Lufthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland to serve redundancy notices on its workers today (Friday, 20th December) while negotiations at the Labour Court on redundancy terms were ongoing. SIPTU Organiser,...

SIPTU representatives have agreed to attend a Labour Relations Commission (LRC) hearing concerning the dispute at Resources Facilities Services Ltd, a contract cleaning company, on Thursday, 2nd January. SIPTU Organiser, Ed Kenny, said:...

SIPTU members in Marks and Spencer have voted by 96% to 4% to accept a Labour Court recommendation in relation to a dispute at the company which resulted from a management decsion to unilaterally close the workers’ defined benefit pension scheme. The company had...

SIPTU has stated that the quarterly national accounts, published today (Thursday, 19th December), show a welcome pick-up in domestic demand with real GDP rising by 1.5% in the third quarter of 2013. SIPTU economist, Marie Sherlock, said:...

SIPTU members employed in Liebherr Container Cranes, Killarney, Co. Kerry, will ballot in early January on a Labour Court recommendation aimed at resolving a dispute at the company. SIPTU Organiser, Marie Kearney, said: “It is...

SIPTU members in Resources Facilities Services Ltd, a contract cleaning company, are to take three further days of action at Beaumont Hospital in a dispute resulting from the company decision to implement a cut to workers pay without agreement. SIPTU...

SIPTU has described the Government’s Medium-Term Economic Strategy published today (Tuesday, 17th December) as a reasonable diagnosis of the challenges facing the Irish economy but more detail is needed on how progress can be made. SIPTU Economist,...

SIPTU has expressed concern at the prevalence of racist incidents as indicated in the first quarterly report from iReport.ie and the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) Ireland, published today (Monday, 16th December). Approximately one racist incident...

A limited edition commemorative book outlining the background and production of the 1913 Lockout Tapestry is now available to buy from SIPTU and selected bookshops in Dublin. The Making of the Great 1913 Lockout Tapestry details the background and those who...

SIPTU has called on the management of Beaumont Hospital to intervene in a dispute involving Resources Facilities Services Ltd, a contract cleaning company, which has implemented a cut to its workers pay without agreement. SIPTU Organiser, Ed...

The Bord Gáis Group of Unions has expressed disappointment with the Government’s decision to sell Bord Gáis Energy to a consortium of private companies led by the UK based Centrica Plc. SIPTU Organiser and Secretary of the Bord Gáis Group of...

SIPTU members employed in Marks & Spencer stores are deferring a one day stoppage work scheduled to take place on Thursday, 12th December. Following engagement between union representatives and management onWednesday (11th December) at the Labour...

SIPTU has called on the management of Liebherr Container Cranes, Killarney, Co. Kerry, to respect the industrial relations process and Labour Court recommendation in the dispute over pay at the company. SIPTU Organiser, Marie Kearney,...

SIPTU members at Liebherr Container Cranes, Killarney, Co. Kerry, are seeking clarification of a number of points, for the avoidance of doubt, in a Labour Court recommendation issued in relation to the dispute at the company concerning...

SIPTU has served notice of industrial action on Resource Facilities Service Ltd for Monday, 16th December. The company operates cleaning services at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. SIPTU Organiser, Ed Kenny, said: “SIPTU members will be placing...

SIPTU members employed in Marks & Spencer stores will conduct a one-day strike action on Saturday (7th December) in opposition to a management decision to unilaterally close the workers’ defined benefit pension scheme. SIPTU Organiser, Neil...

SIPTU has expressed disappointment at the decision of the management of Kraus & Naimer Ireland Ltd, Shannon, Co. Clare, to place the company into liquidation despite recent talks with workers on strategies to maintain its operation. SIPTU...

SIPTU representatives will meet with the management of Pfizer Ireland on Friday, 6th December, at 2.00 p.m. to discuss its announcement of 150 job losses at the company’s plant in Newbridge, Co. Kildare. SIPTU Organiser, Frank Jones said:...

Live Register figures for November, released today (Wednesday, 4th December), showing a decrease of 25,400 in the number of people signing on since the start of 2013 are a positive sign for the economy according to SIPTU economist, Marie...

SIPTU representatives will meet with the management of Baxter Healthcare tomorrow (3rd December) to discuss its announcement of 110 redundancies at the company’s plant in Castlebar, Co. Mayo. The meeting follows an announcement by Baxter Healthcare that...

SIPTU members employed in Marks & Spencer stores have voted 100% in favour of industrial action and by 97.5% to 2.5% in favour of strike action following the company’s decision to unilaterally closethe workers’ defined benefit pension scheme. SIPTU...

SIPTU has called on Cork City Council not to implement plans to sell or transfer social housing stock to housing associations as its retention under local authority control is in the best interest of tenants. SIPTU Organiser, Con Casey, said: “Cork...

SIPTU members at Liebherr Container Cranes, Killarney, have accepted an invitation to the attend a hearing of the Labour Court on Wednesday, 4th December, to discuss a dispute at the company concerning its failure to honour a pay claim that was...

SIPTU members at Liebherr Container Cranes, Killarney, are undertaking a one-day work stoppage on Wednesday, 27th November, due to the company’s failure to honour a pay claim that was due to them since 2009. SIPTU Organiser, Marie...

The latest Central Statistics Office figures, released today (Tuesday, 26th November), showing a rise in the number of those in work are positive but the Government’s focus must remain on the creation of decent jobs, according to SIPTU...

SIPTU has called on Irish construction workers who may have been included on a ‘blacklist’ utilised by leading British building firms from the late 1960s until 2009, to contact the GMB trade union so they can been assisted in seeking compensation....

The announcement today (Thursday, 21st November) that the Government has agreed the terms of new leases for the continuation of mining, and its substantial extension, at Tara Mines, Co. Meath, is “good news” for the 650...

SIPTU has written to An Bord Altranais requesting an urgent meeting to discuss its decision to increase the annual registration fee for nurses and midwives from the 1st January 2014. Nurses and Midwives are currently receiving retention fee notices from An Bord...

SIPTU is holding an information meeting for HSE Home Helps based in Co. Longford on Thursday, 28th November, at 7.00 p.m. in the Longford Arms Hotel, Longford Town. The meeting will discuss the recent Labour Court recommendation concerning the...

Trade union representatives are meeting with the management of Lufthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland today (Monday, 18th November) to discuss the future of the company’s plant in Rathcoole, Co. Dublin, and the over 400 workers employed in it....

ESB workers voted by a majority of 87.5% to 12.5% to take industrial action in a dispute arising from a €1.6 billion deficit in the pension scheme at the semi-state company. The ballot of members of the ESB Group of Unions was counted on Monday, 18th...

SIPTU regrets the decision by Lufthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland to announce that it is considering the closure of its plant in Rathcoole, Co. Dublin, which would result in the loss of 400 jobs. SIPTU Organiser, Karl Byrne, said: “This...

Hundreds of workers from the Community and Voluntary Sector will be meeting in Liberty Hall on Monday, 18th November, to discuss how to protect jobs and community services in light of years of budget cuts. The assembly, which is organised by the ICTU...

Broadcaster Vincent Browne will launch a new edition of a controversial book on the Irish economic collapse, Sins of the Father, in Liberty Hall, Dublin, on Wednesday, 13th November, at 6.00 p.m. The fully updated edition of the...

SIPTU members in Newbridge Credit Union will meet this evening (Monday 11th November) following the High Court decision on Sunday to transfer it to Permanent TSB. SIPTU Organiser, Adrian Kane, said that the credit union employees had been treated...

SIPTU has expressed regret at the decision of the committee of Dublin Community Television (DCTV) to begin the orderly wind down of the station due to lack of funding. SIPTU Community Sector Organiser, Darragh O’Connor, said: “DCTV provided a...

A major gathering of young people to discuss how to combat unemployment, forced emigration and the other crises affecting their generation will be held in Liberty Hall on Saturday, 9th November, starting at 12.00 p.m. The event, which is being...

A major gathering of young people to discuss how to combat unemployment, forced emigration and the other crises affecting their generation will be held in Liberty Hall on Saturday, 9th November, starting at 12.00 p.m. The event, which is being...

SIPTU has challenged an attempt by the management of the HSE to re-interpret the Haddington Road Agreement to include targeted redundancies and it’s placing of cost savings ahead of the provision of patient services. SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul...

SIPTU Dublin Bus drivers have voted by 72% to 28% against taking strike action in opposition to the implementation of a cost-savings plan. Counting of the ballots by the drivers was completed in Liberty Hall this evening. SIPTU Organiser, John Murphy,...

SIPTU President, Jack O'Connor, has welcomed the support by Fianna Fáil finance spokesman Michael McGrath for the establishment of a Strategic Investment Bank. He said that following the Government’s welcome introduction of a strategic...

SIPTU President, Jack O'Connor, has called on the Government to make good on its commitment in the Programme for Government for the creation of a State Investment Bank using the ACC branch network. “The creation of the strategic investment fund...

SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor, has said that the national officers of the union will sanction industrial action if members in Dublin Bus ballot for it next week. SIPTU drivers in Dublin Bus are to ballot on whether to take strike action...

SIPTU which represents Local Development Company (LDC) workers across the country has welcomed the findings of the mid-term review of the Local and Community Development programme. The report, undertaken by the Centre for Effective Services, (CES) was...

SIPTU is holding two information meetings for HSE Home Helps based in Limerick on Tuesday 5th November at the South Court Hotel, and Monday 11th November at the Courtney Lodge Hotel, with both meetings commencing at 7.00 p.m. The meetings will discuss the...

SIPTU members in the National College of Ireland (NCI), Dublin will commence industrial action on Wednesday, 30th October. The action is in response to the unilateral breach by the college management of an agreement reached with union members two years...

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Adrian Kane, and UNITE Regional Officer, Colm Quinlan, have said that the decision to wind down ACC it is a very sad day for the bank’s employees and their families. Following the announcement by ACC management...

SIPTU Dublin Bus drivers have voted by 51% to 49% to reject proposed changes to workers’ terms of employment following a ballot which was counted in Liberty Hall, Dublin, today (Friday, 25th October). The latest set of proposals on the...

SIPTU is holding an information meeting for HSE Home Helps at 4.00 p.m. on Thursday 31st October at the Glasshouse Hotel in Sligo. The meeting will discuss the recent Labour Court recommendation concerning Home Helps’ contracts of employment which establishes a...

The National Executive Council (NEC) of SIPTU has declared its deep disappointment at yesterday’s revelation that the Budget changes to pension tax relief for very high earners will now yield only €120 million as against the €250 million promised this...

A permanent liquidator was appointed to the jewellery manufacturer, Andersen Ireland Ltd, Rathkeale, Co. Limerick, at the High Court on Monday (21st October). SIPTU Organiser, Denis Gormalley, said: “Almost half of the...

Youth campaign groups, representing young workers, the unemployed and students will protest proposals contained in Budget 2014 to cut Job Seekers Allowance for those under 26 by forming a 'Dáil queue' on Kildare Street, Dublin,...

Many SIPTU pensioners were among the several thousand people who gathered outside the Dáil this afternoon (Tuesday, 22nd October) to protest against a series of cuts in Budget 2014 which target the elderly and young. Among those who addressed the...

SIPTU is holding information meetings for HSE Home Helps based in Donegal at 3.30 p.m. and 8.00 p.m. on Tuesday 29th October in the Mount Errigal hotel, Letterkenny. The meetings will discuss the recent Labour Court recommendation concerning Home Helps’...

SIPTU is holding an information meeting for HSE Home Helps based in County Leitrim in the Bush Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon, at 6.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 30th October. The meeting will discuss the recent Labour Court recommendation concerning Home...

SIPTU is supporting a protest rally over cuts affecting the elderly, the sick and the vulnerable in Budget 2014 which is taking place outside the Dáil at 1.15 p.m. on Tuesday, 22nd October. SIPTU National Retired Staff Council chairman, Frank...

Lecturers, researchers and administrative staff at Dublin City University (DCU) have launched a charter to reclaim Irish universities from excessive commercialisation and corporate influence. The charter will be discussed at a meeting in DCU at 1.00 p.m. on...

SIPTU has condemned the proposal in Budget 2014 to maintain a €25 million reduction in funding to higher education institutions that was introduced in 2013. SIPTU Education Sector chairperson, Jack McGinley, said: “This cut in funding means that...

The SIPTU Dublin District Council has stated that it regrets the failure of some Fine Gael TDs to meet constituents to discuss ICTU proposals aimed at boosting economic growth and creating jobs. During the last month members of the SIPTU Dublin District Council have...

The Budget 2014 proposal to cut social welfare payments for under 26 year olds is an attempt to drive young workers into jobs without payment or out of the country, according to a coalition of youth campaign groups who will be protesting outside the Dáil...

Budget 2014 is one that requires much renovation SIPTU President, Jack O’Connor has said. In a review of today’s budget measures he said: “Granted, a €2.5bn budget is better than the €3.1bn originally projected. However,...

SIPTU is holding information meetings for HSE Home Helps based in Galway on Wednesday, 23rd October in the Clayton Hotel, Ballybrit and Thursday, 24th October, in the Loughrea Hotel and Spa, Loughrea, both meetings commencing at...

SIPTU drivers at Irish Rail have held urgent discussions with management in order to prevent further disruption of DART services. The issue at the centre of the dispute relates to drivers being unilaterally instructed by management to carry out maintenance work on...

SIPTU is holding an information meeting for HSE Home Helps based in County Roscommon, in Hannon’s Hotel, Roscommon, on Thursday, 17th October at 7.30 p.m. The meeting will discuss the recent Labour Court recommendation concerning Home...

A world renowned Welsh male choir is among the acts appearing in the Banding Together concert in Liberty Hall Dublin, tonight (Thursday, 10th October), starting at 7.30 p.m. The Côr Meibion Onllwyn - Onllwyn Male Voice Choir will be accompanied...

In his Presidential Address at the SIPTU Biennial Delegate Conference, SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor, said that if the Government exceeds the 5.15% deficit target for Budget 2014, his union will urge the Private Sector Committee...

A reenactment of the arrival of the SS Hare that carried food supplies from Britain for workers’ families during the 1913 Lockout is taking place on City Quay on Saturday (5th October) at 12.40 p.m. Docking in Dublin is the reconstituted SS Hare which set sail...

SIPTU has welcomed the publication by the Minister for Jobs, Innovation and Enterprise, Richard Bruton, of the long awaited 'Review of the Joint Labour Committees' (JLCs). According to SIPTU Vice-President, Patricia King, the...

SIPTU has served strike notice on McAllister Garage Ltd (trading as McAllister Volkswagen), Airside Motor Park, Swords, Co. Dublin, with the action scheduled to commence on Monday, 7th October at 9.00 a.m. The scheduled strike is due to a...

A symposium outlining the key outcomes of a research project based largely on the testimonies of survivors of the Magdalene Laundries will be held in Liberty Hall, Dublin, on Saturday, 28th September, from 1.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m....

Representatives of the SIPTU Louth District Committee have met with all their local TDs to present them with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) budget proposals that are aimed at boosting growth in our economy and creating jobs. On Friday, 20th...

Galway West Labour TD, Derek Nolan, has signed a SIPTU petition calling on the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, to “respect community sector workers and meet their union”. Over 1000...

The final two banners of the Liberty Hall wrap around, depicting scenes from the 1913 Lockout, will be unfurled on Thursday and Friday, 26th – 27th September. The 50 meter high, 17 meter wide banners will cover the entire south,...

SIPTU representatives will begin negotiations with the provisional liquidator of Andersen Ireland Ltd, Rathkeale, Co. Limerick, on Thursday, 26th September. The negotiations follow a meeting between all parties concerned with the liquidation of...

Sinn Féin TDs and councillors have signed a SIPTU petition calling on the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, to “respect community sector workers and meet their union”. Over 1000 people have...

SIPTU has stated that the Quarterly National Accounts figures published today (Thursday, 19th September) confirm that the economy grew by a disappointing 0.4% between April and June this year and only serve to emphasise the need for a major economic stimulus....

SIPTU has stated that proposed cutbacks in the education sector should be restricted to reducing the public funds which are provided to subsidise fee paying private schools. SIPTU Dublin District Council chairperson, Jack McGinley, said: “We...

Representatives of the SIPTU Louth District Committee are meeting with all local TDs to present them with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions budget proposals that are aimed at boosting growth in our economy and creating jobs. A delegation from the SIPTU Louth District...

President Michael D Higgins launched a Tapestry depicting scenes and imagery from the 1913 Lockout in Liberty Hall, today (Wednesday, 18th September). The Tapestry, which consists of 30 panels designed by artists Cathy Henderson and Robert...

SIPTU has condemned the decision of the owners of Andersen Ireland Ltd to seek a court appointed liquidator. The move is expected to result in a total wind-up of the custom jewelry manufacturer based in Rathkeale, Co. Limerick, with the loss of over 160...

SIPTU has welcomed a Labour Court recommendation issued today which puts the terms and conditions of 10,000 Home Helps employed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) on a firm and binding platform for the first time since the community service was established...