News Archive

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...

SIPTU Health workers protested outside the Public Sector Finance and Efficiency Summit held in the Croke Park conference centre, Dublin, this morning (Wednesday, 18th September) to highlight the threat to services and jobs from the creeping...

Representatives of over 30 hotels and 50 organisations seeking to book event and conference venues attended a highly successful Fair Hotels Expo in Liberty Hall on Tuesday, 17th September. A Fair Hotel is one that ensures the fair treatment of staff and...

Members of the SIPTU Galway District Committee met with Fine Gael TD, Sean Kyne, and Fianna Fáil TD, Eamonn O’Cuiv, on Thursday, 12th September, to present them with Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) budget...

SIPTU will oppose a National Transport Authority (NTA) plan to privatise 10% of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann routes that would severely damage the companies’ ability to continue to provide a nationwide public transport system. According to the plans...

SIPTU members commenced a 48-hour work stoppage at 6.30 a.m. on Thursday, 12th September, at Milne Foods in Birr, County Offaly, due to the company’s failure to implement a Labour Court recommendation in relation to workers'...

Offaly Fianna Fáil TD, Barry Cowen, has signed a petition calling on the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan to “respect community sector workers and meet their union” Over 1,000...

SIPTU representatives will meet with the management of Andersen Ltd, Rathkeale, Co. Limerick, on Tuesday (10th September) to discuss the custom jewellery manufacturer’s announcement today (Friday, 6th September) that it has entered into...

SIPTU Community Sector activists handed in a pre-budget submission today, (Wednesday, 4th September) to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, calling for the protection of services provided by Local Development...

The Live Register figures for August, which were published today (Wednesday, 4th September), show a seasonally adjusted monthly fall of 3,400 people signing on but also indicates increased difficulties for women seeking employment,...

Members of the SIPTU Meath District Committee met with local Fine Gael politicians last week, to ask them to consider the Irish Congress of Trade Union (ICTU) budget proposals that are aimed at reaching Ireland’s agreed deficit targets, spurring job...

SIPTU members are staging a protest today (Monday, 2nd September) outside the Chief State Solicitor’s Office, Osmond House, Little Ship Street, Dublin 8, where they were, until recently, employed as security officers....

SIPTU has welcomed the decision of the management of O’Rourke’s Pharmacy in Monasterevin, Co. Kildare, to agree to attend proximity talks with union representatives at the Labour Relations Commission on Tuesday, 10th September. In...

SIPTU has raised grave concern about the closure of an operation theatre in Louth County Hospital on alternative weeks from the start of September. The move may result in SIPTU members being transferred to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, during the...

SIPTU has raised grave concern about the closure of an operation theatre in Louth County Hospital on alternative weeks from the start of September. The move may result in SIPTU members being transferred to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, during the...

SIPTU members are staging a protest today (Monday, 26th August) outside the Chief State Solicitor’s Office, Osmond House, Little Ship Street, Dublin 8, where they were until recently employed as security officers. The workers are...

SIPTU has condemned the use of agency staff by Uniphar Retail Services (URS) in an attempt to undermine industrial action at O’Rourke’s Pharmacy in Monasterevin, Co. Kildare. Workers at O’Rourke’s Pharmacy are conducting a one-day work...

Cavan-Monaghan TDs Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin and Brendan Smith 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...

SIPTU has welcomed the intervention of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) in a dispute involving the Catholic Church and a former employee. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Adrian Kane, said: “The LRC informed SIPTU this afternoon (Friday, 23rd...

SIPTU has condemned a threat by the Catholic Church to seek a legal injunction to prevent a protest by a former employee outside the Church of Mary Immaculate Queen in Bearna, Co. Galway, on Sunday, 25th August. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Adrian...

SIPTU members have voted unanimously in favour of industrial action in the Marks and Spencer store in Tallaght, Co. Dublin. The union has issued the company with notice of industrial action to take place on or after Tuesday, 10th September.SIPTU...

SIPTU members employed in Crowley’s Pharmacy in Mahon, Co. Cork, are conducting a one-day work stoppage, today (Wednesday, 21st August), to protest at unilateral changes to their terms of employment, illegal deductions from...

SIPTU completed a ballot of its members in Dublin Bus on Tuesday (20th August), with workers in the clerical, craft, operative, engineering supervisor, inspector and executive grades voting to accept Labour Court proposals to change their...

The SIPTU Sligo District Committee is hosting a series of events to commemorate the Sligo Dock Strike of 1913 on Thursday, 29th August The events begin with the unveiling of a plaque in memory of ITGWU member Patrick Dunbar in the SIPTU Sligo Office in Cleverath...

SIPTU has condemned the treatment of staff, including the implementation of compulsory redundancies without negotiation, by the new management of the Sunday Business Post. SIPTU Organiser, John White, said: “The new management of the...

Milne Foods workers and their supporters will march in Birr, County Offaly on Saturday, 24th August, to protest at the refusal of the company to implement a Labour Court recommendation or meet with its employees’ representatives. The protest...

SIPTU Dublin Bus Drivers have voted to reject Labour Court proposals to change their terms of employment by 72% to 28% following a ballot which was counted in Liberty Hall, Dublin, on Friday, 16th August. The proposals were arrived at after overnight...

Over 1,000 people have signed the SIPTU Community Sector petition calling on the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, to meet with the representatives of community workers who will be affected by his plans...

The use of strike-breakers by the management of Kells Credit Union, County Meath, marks a “new low” in its attempts to deny workers collective bargaining rights, according to SIPTU Insurance and Finance Sector Organiser, Adrian...

Former BCD Travel workers intend to protest outside the Rose of Tralee Festival to highlight the failure of the event’s sponsor, Kerry Group, to ensure its contractor pays them redundancy payments they are owed. The Festival begins on...

SIPTU members in G4S Cash Solutions Ireland Ltd have voted to accept restructuring proposals aimed at securing the long-term future of the company. In a ballot counted yesterday evening (Thursday, 8th August), workers voted by 79% to 21% to accept the...

Dublin Central TDs Maureen O’Sullivan and Mary Lou McDonald today (Friday,9th August) signed a SIPTU petition calling on the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, to “respect community sector...

SIPTU members in Dublin Bus will vote on Labour Court proposals for a company cost savings plan next week. Prior to the ballot, SIPTU representatives will hold a general meeting of Dublin Bus drivers in Liberty Hall on Monday, 12th August. SIPTU members in...

SIPTU representatives will meet with Marks & Spencer workers tomorrow (Thursday, 8th August) to discuss options and redundancy terms for members of staff affected by the planned closure of four of the company’s stores. The company announced today (7th...

SIPTU supports the maintenance of the free travel scheme for pensioners and other eligible groups utilising public transport. SIPTU Organiser Paul Cullen said: “SIPTU supports the maintenance of the free travel scheme for eligible people on services provided by...

SIPTU has welcomed the invitation to talks issued this evening by the chairman of the Labour Court. SIPTU Sector Organiser Willie Noone said:“We welcome the intervention of the Labour Court as this dispute will only be resolved through negotiation and...

SIPTU members conducting a 48-hour strike action at Milne Foods in Birr, County Offaly, have called on politicians to demand that the company, which has a number of contracts to supply State bodies, implement a Labour Court recommendation in...

Former BCD Travel workers have called for greater Government action following a statement by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Burton, that he “greatly regrets” that the company has failed to adhere to a Labour Court...

Supporting Quality, the SIPTU supported consumer campaign aimed at protecting jobs in Ireland and supporting quality Irish products, marked a successful first year in operation with an event in the Heineken (Murphy’s) Brewery in Cork on...

SIPTU members in Kells Credit Union, county Meath, will resume industrial action on Saturday, 3rd August. This will be followed by a series of rolling stoppages, according to SIPTU Organiser, Adrian Kane, who was speaking after a...

The announcement by the book retailer, Waterstones, that it has requested several employees to re-apply for positions at the company is a cause of concern for the workers involved and the wider industry, according to SIPTU Organiser, Graham...

Former BCD travel group workers, who have had redundancy payments awarded in a Labour Court ruling withheld by the company, and their supporters staged a protest outside their former workplace at the Kerry Group offices in Tralee today (Thursday,...

SIPTU has expressed concern at the announcement by Eason and Sons Ltd that the company intends to ‘wind up’ its Defined Benefit Pension Scheme. SIPTU Organiser, Graham Macken, said: “This announcement by Eason’s that it intends to...

SIPTU West Cork District Committee has called on Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, to meet with community sector workers to discuss proposed major changes to the provision of community development schemes....

Seven former BCD travel group workers, who have had redundancy payments awarded in a Labour Court ruling withheld by the company, will protest outside the their former workplace at the Kerry Group offices in Tralee on Thursday, 25th July. On Friday...

SIPTU has called on the management of Energizer Ireland Ltd and the employers’ organisation, IBEC, to respect workers’ rights by attending an early meeting of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) to discuss redundancies at the company. SIPTU...

SIPTU members have served notice of industrial action on the management of St Joseph’s National School, Bonnybrook, in Dublin. The move follows a unanimous vote by cleaning staff at the school to take industrial action, up to and including...

SIPTU has expressed concern at the threat to the jobs of workers employed by Homebase House and Garden Centre Ltd. SIPTU Organiser, Graham Macken, said: “We are extremely concerned by the announcement yesterday (Tuesday, 16th July) that an...

SIPTU has called for investment in public nursing homes to ensure society provides elderly citizens with the standard of care they require. SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said: “The revelations today in The Irish Times concerning a...

SIPTU has expressed its disappointment with the decision of the Pensions Board to reject proposals, agreed by unions and management, which were aimed at overcoming the crisis in the Aer Lingus/Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) pension scheme. SIPTU Sector...

SIPTU has welcomed the announcement today (Thursday, 11th July) that Pfizer Ireland Ltd intends to invest $130 million in new manufacturing and research facilities in Ringaskiddy and Grangecastle in County Cork. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Alan...

SIPTU members have commenced 24-hour strike action at Milne Foods in Birr, County Offaly, due to the company’s failure to implement a Labour Court recommendation in relation to workers' conditions of employment The strike action began at 6.30...

Workers and SIPTU representatives will meet with Kells Town Council on Monday, 15th July, to discuss the industrial dispute at St. Colmcilles' Credit Union in Kells, county Meath. Following a request from SIPTU, councillors confirmed the...

SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor has attacked IBECs call that there should be no tax increases in the next budget as “a wolf in sheep’s clothing. “This is nothing more than a thinly camouflaged attempt to insulate the better off from tax...

SIPTU members have served notice of strike action at Milne Foods in Birr, co. Offaly, due to the company’s failure to implement a Labour Court recommendation in relation to workers' conditions of employment. The strike action is scheduled to...

SIPTU drivers in Dublin Bus are to commence a ballot for strike action after they overwhelmingly rejected proposals to cut their pay and reduce their conditions of employment. At a meeting this afternoon (Wednesday, 3rd July), the SIPTU Dublin Bus drivers...

President and Delegates. The misguided public policy of one-sided austerity, which reflects the culture and the interests so dramatically revealed in the Anglo Irish tapes has utterly failed, inflicting misery on the peoples of Europe in the process. The...

Speaking on the economy at the ICTU conference in Belfast today (Tuesday 2nd July) SIPTU President, Jack O’Connor, called on the Irish Government to immediately “ramp up the domestic economy” or face exacerbating the economic and social...

SIPTU has welcomed a report by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions into workplace innovation in Ireland. In one of its key findings the ‘Work Organisation and Innovation in Ireland’ report concludes that workplace...

SIPTU has called on the Health Service Executive (HSE) to place the utmost emphasis on the health and safety of its employees and ensure that the circumstances that led to the death of a paramedic in 2010 are never repeated. The call follows the Dublin District Court...

Reacting to the publication on Thursday, 27th June, by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) of the Quarterly National Accounts, indicating that the Irish economy is in recession, SIPTU economist, Marie Sherlock, said it is clear that...

Workers in St. Colmcilles's Credit Union in Kells, county Meath, will commence industrial action tomorrow (27th June) morning at 9.30 a.m. in response to a management failure to recognise their union, SIPTU, for collective bargaining...

The Members of the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association (MLSA)have voted in favour of the Haddington Road proposals on pay and reform in the public service with 62% in favour and 38% against. ...

Former trade union official Brendan Archbold, who represented the Dunnes Stores strikers in their stand against apartheid South Africa recalls that struggle and meeting Mandela. “It will always be crucial for the trade union movement to play the role of a...

SIPTU members in Clover Lodge Nursing Home, in Athy, Co Kildare are to protest on Thursday (27th June) to demonstrate their anger at the company’s failure to recognise their rights or to honour agreements made with the union. According to SIPTU...

SIPTU Divisional Organiser, John King, has called on the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, to immediately act on his stated intention that Ireland would be among the first countries to ratify ILO Convention 189...

SIPTU members have voted in favour of the Haddington Road proposals on pay and reform in the public service. Following an extensive ballot of members working in the public service, they have voted by 76% to 24% in favour of the proposals.Responding to the result...

SIPTU Contract Cleaners have vowed to “organise and fight” to defend the “threshold of decency” represented by the terms of the Registered Employment Agreement (REA) for the security and cleaning sector. Speaking to a crowd of over 100 people...

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Adrian Kane, has said that workers in St. Colmcilles's Credit Union in Kells, county Meath, have been left no option but to commence a campaign of industrial action after management refused to implement the terms of...

A colourful commemoration at the statue of Jim Larkin in O’Connell Street is being planned by SIPTU’s Fair Deal for Cleaners Campaign for mid-day on Monday 17th June next. The event is in honour of International Justice for Cleaners Day and will involve...

SIPTU has asked the Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald, for increased government investment in training for childcare workers which is both classroom based and involves on the job training. SIPTU Vice-President, Patricia King, said that...

The latest Live Register figures indicate a continued decline in the numbers signing on but it is not clear what is the main factor driving this trend, according to SIPTU Economist, Marie Sherlock. Live Register figures published today (Thursday, 6th...

SIPTU Home Support workers will hold a protest against government cutbacks to services in Dundalk town centre on Friday, 7th June at 3.00 p.m. Protesters will gather in Dundalk Town Square before marching to the local HSE Offices on Market Street to hand in a...

SIPTU has welcomed a Government commitment to regulate the provision of Home Help services but has warned that without increased funding regulation cannot guarantee quality care for elderly people. SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said:...

SIPTU has described Central Statistics Office figures released today (Thursday, 30th May) which show a rise in the number of those in work as ‘a step in the right direction’ but expressed concern over the part-time nature of many of the new jobs....

Youth Workers and young people held a symbolic “Forced to Fly” protest outside the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, Mespil Road, Dublin 4, on Tuesday (28th May) at 11.00 a.m. to highlight continued funding cuts to youth services....

SIPTU members at Shanganagh Waste Water Treatment Plant, Co. Dublin, have voted unanimously this morning (Friday, 24th May) to accept proposals from the Labour Relations Commission and return to work. The vote came after three days of strike action...

A comprehensive collective agreement has been concluded between SIPTU Manufacturing Division and PepsiCo for a new manufacturing facility in Little Island in Cork. The plant will produce food ingredients which will be exported to PepsiCo manufacturing facilities...

Strike breakers are being utilised in an attempt to disrupt an official SIPTU dispute at the Shanganagh Water Treatment Plant, Co. Dublin. The decision by the management of SDD Shanganagh Water Treatment Ltd to fly in strike breakers from Spain is a major...

“We recommend acceptance of the new proposals for an agreement on pay and reform in the Public Service for the period 2013 – 2016. They optimise the potential for generating savings through progressive measures such as the replacement of agency staff with...

To mark World Cultural Diversity Day on Monday, 20th May, a new poster celebrating the diverse membership of SIPTU was launched in the Dan Shaw Centre in Navan. At an evening event co-hosted by SIPTU Meath District Committee and the migrant rights...

SIPTU members engaged in a second day of strike action at the Shanganagh Waste Water Treatment Plant, Co. Dublin, have expressed serious concern over the possible environmental impact of the dispute at the facility. The facility treats water for domestic...

Irish Equity, SIPTU and Equity UK met in Liberty Hall on Tuesday (21st May) and debated the challenges confronting actors who live and work in the Republic of Ireland and international actors who come to work in Ireland. Both unions have agreed that the...