News Archive

Ireland needs a new economic model to meet the immense challenges of the twenty-first century, SIPTU General Secretary, Joe Cunningham, has told the union's Biennial Delegate Conference (BDC) in Galway. The speech, delivered to almost 350...

Irish Equity, the union representing professionals in the live performance and theatre sector in the Republic of Ireland, has congratulated its counterpart union in the United States, SAG-AFTRA, on the successful conclusion of their strike...

SIPTU has condemned the actions of Neart Le Chéile after its board refused to meet or communicate with workers facing redundancy. Six workers from the Clondalkin-based support centre's drugs and alcohol intervention programme were put on protective notice...

SIPTU has called on Pfizer management to meet with the union over today's announcement that the company plans to roll out voluntary redundancies at its Newbridge facility. The union, which represents almost 700 members at the Co. Kildare site, says...

SIPTU has called for the immediate introduction of pay-related Jobseeker's Benefit to prevent workers like those in Tara Mines "falling into poverty." At a well-attended meeting of Tara Mines workers in SIPTU’s Dan Shaw Centre in Navan on...

The Government must urgently expand the number of third-level places in radiation therapy or face a major crisis, SIPTU warned the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, today. The...

SIPTU’s Local Authority Sector Committee have condemned the ongoing failure by the Government to engage with the Public Service Unions in relation to a successor agreement to Building Momentum, which expires at the end of the year. While the Government pat...

SIPTU representatives have called for an urgent meeting with Nestlé Wyeth Nutritionals management following today's shock announcement that the company plans to close the Askeaton plant in county Limerick in the first quarter of 2026 with a potential loss...

SIPTU representatives have called on the Government to extend emergency legislation to safeguard Jobseeker's Benefit for workers in Tara Mines, county Meath. The union has written to Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, to prevent...

SIPTU Health Division has called for an urgent meeting with the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Department of Health following the decision to implement a recruitment freeze on many grades represented by the union within the health service. The freeze was revealed...

SIPTU representatives have today (Thursday, 12th October) confirmed that the union has secured an extension of a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) agreement that covers temporary lay-offs at Tara Mines following negotiations with company management. The...

SIPTU radiographers at University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park University Hospital have expressed their disappointment at the response from management at a meeting today (12thOctober) to discuss staffing levels. Radiographers earlier this week voted overwhelmingly...

SIPTU has said the government's decision to increase the state pension by only €12 in Budget 2024 will "lock pensioners into poverty" for years to come. The comments come after yesterday's announcement by the Minister for Social...

SIPTU General Secretary, Joe Cunningham, has said Budget 2024 is in danger of repeating the same mistakes made prior to the financial crash by hollowing out the tax base while squeezing public services. Joe Cunningham said: “The Government risks...

Radiographers in University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park University Hospital have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action up to and including strike action in a dispute over safe staffing levels. The result follows months of frustration over recruitment and...

SIPTU and other trade unions at Translink have written to Denis McMahon, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Infrastructure, to express the union's concern over the financial sustainability of Northern Ireland public transport company. The move...

A petition calling for the recommendations of an Oireachtas report on the operation of the Section 481 tax credit for film makers will be handed to the Government at Leinster House tomorrow. Irish Equity president, Gerry O’Brien, will submit the...

SIPTU has welcomed today's announcement by the Living Wage Technical Group (LWTG) that its calculation of the Living Wage for Ireland has risen to €14.80. This new figure comes in response to the skyrocketing cost of living and calls for urgent government...

SIPTU representatives are calling on childcare employers to restart pay talks after an unacceptable proposal for a rate of €13.65 per hour for qualified Early Years Educators was made at the Joint Labour Committee (JLC) yesterday (25th September). ​SIPTU Head of...

The Labour Court has invited both parties in the GMC Civil and Mechanical Engineering strike to a hearing which will take place next Monday, October 2nd. SIPTU has replied positively to the Labour Court’s invitation and its request that industrial action...

SIPTU, the union with national negotiation rights for healthcare assistants (HCAs) in Ireland, will be reaching out to HCAs in Galway University Hospital today (21st September) as part of a campaign to encourage them to join the union and ensure their role...

SIPTU has described the management of GMC Civil and Mechanical Engineering as "not serious" about finding a resolution to their industrial dispute. The remarks came after talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) last night failed to resolve the...

The Group of Unions (GOU) representing Bord na Móna workers has condemned the "double standards" of the semi-state's management after revelations that the company paid a benefit-in-kind tax bill for the €127,000 electric BMW used by...

SIPTU welcomes today's application of the construction sector SEO, which will see an increase of 1.9% in the minimum hourly rates of pay for workers. The new hourly minimum rates are as follows: craftsperson, €21.49; Category A worker,...

SIPTU, the union representing the majority of workers in Bord na Móna, has condemned the "arrogance and hypocrisy" of the semi-state's management after revelations that the company paid a benefit-in-kind tax bill for the...

SIPTU has announced that the union has suspended its pickets at GMC Civil and Mechanical Engineering today (15th September) following an agreement to enter talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The talks, which begin at 11am this morning, were...

SIPTU representatives have today (Tuesday, 12th September) confirmed that last-ditch talks to avoid an all-out strike of members at GMC Civil and Mechanical Engineering have collapsed. This means that strike action will commence from tomorrow morning...

SIPTU members at gas network infrastructure company, GMC Civil and Mechanical Engineering, will commence nationwide strike action next Wednesday (September 13th) following the company's failure to implement recommendations arising from an agreed...

Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures released today showing inflation rising to 6.3% will send a shockwave through workplaces across Ireland, according to SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Gerry McCormack. The union predicts that workers and their...

SIPTU Retained Fire Fighters have today (Tuesday, September 5th) voted to accept proposals from the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to resolve their industrial dispute. This follows intensive consultation last week and a secret ballot. Karan O...

SIPTU members have welcomed the new Employment Regulation Order (ERO) for the contract security industry which takes effect this week. SIPTU Contract Services Sector Organiser, Ed Kenny, said: “Our contract security members are extremely pleased...

SIPTU representatives today (Thursday, 31st August) launched the union's pre-Budget submission on childcare outlining five priorities for the sector. Speaking at the launch in the Larkin preschool, Ballybough, Dublin, SIPTU Head of...

On Friday, 1st September, the SIPTU Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon (SLR) District Council will launch its annual Markievicz/Partridge summer school in the Southern Hotel, Sligo. Markievicz/Partridge summer school co-ordinator, Ashling...

SIPTU members working in the Clonmel and Waterford branches of Iceland have today (Saturday, 26th August) reached an agreement with the examiner to fast-track their statutory redundancy payments and secure all outstanding monies owed to them. SIPTU member,...

SIPTU representatives have today (Thursday, 24th August) called on the Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, to intervene to protect jobs and childcare services at risk from the sudden closure of the Before 5 Family Centre in Churchfield,...

Following a postal ballot of members, an agreement has been reached today (Wednesday, August 23rd) between Altrad Services (Ireland) and SIPTU representatives which brings forward improvements in pay for construction sector workers. According to the...

SIPTU has called for an immediate meeting with the examiner responsible for Iceland supermarkets in Ireland over outstanding entitlements to wages, holiday pay and redundancy pay. The call follows an abrupt order to close the Waterford store yesterday evening...

Late night talks (Wednesday, August 16th) at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) have resulted in an offer of improved terms for Retained Fire Fighters in a bid to resolve the current strike. As a result, SIPTU has decided to suspend strike action...

In the wake of the escalating fire service dispute, SIPTU today (Thursday, August 10th) wrote to the Government to request clarification on whether social protection payments were being deliberately blocked for Retained Fire Fighters. The letter,...

SIPTU representatives will today (Friday, 11th August) attend crunch childcare pay talks at the Early Years Joint Labour Committee, as the union makes clear that poverty pay has caused a “crisis” in the sector. SIPTU Head of Strategic...

The SIPTU National Retained Fire Fighter Committee has today confirmed that union members will escalate their strike action due to the failure of government to respond to their legitimate concerns. SIPTU Public Administration and Community Division Organiser,...

The SIPTU National Retained Fire Fighter Committee has agreed to undertake a national consultation at all retained fire stations as strike action continues around the country. Following a meeting held yesterday (Tuesday, 1st August) in Liberty Hall,...

SIPTU members in the Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) have highlighted a crisis situation in the service today (Monday, 31st, July) over a long delay in risk assessments for buildings across Dublin city. SIPTU Industrial Organiser, Geoff McEvoy, said:...

The SIPTU Workers Rights Centre has secured an award of €8,000 at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) for a member who was found to have funded her own annual leave. SIPTU member and part-time lecturer, Ms. Vera Toal, who lectures at...

SIPTU members have welcomed the lifting of a High Court injunction which has delayed the implementation of the Contract Security Industry Employment Regulation Order (ERO) since 24th August 2022. SIPTU Contract Services Sector Organiser, Ed Kenny, said:...

SIPTU representatives have today (Friday 28th July) sought immediate engagement with the Health Service Executive (HSE) over the implementation of the Independent Review of the Provision of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the State by the...

SIPTU representatives have said today (Friday, 28th July) that fire service management must take sole responsibility for the chaotic scenes seen in fire stations around the country following the commencement of strike action in the retained fire service. SIPTU...

SIPTU representatives have accused Bord na Móna of breaking the terms of the agreement entered into in relation the closure of Derrinlough Briquette factory and engaging in an act of industrial vandalism. SIPTU TEAC Divisional Organiser, Adrian Kane said:...

SIPTU Transport, Energy, Aviation and Construction Division Organiser, Adrian Kane, has said that new rail links proposed by transport minister, Eamon Ryan, must be rolled out much more rapidly than in the timescale envisaged....

SIPTU representatives have called on the Government to engage in meaningful dialogue to seek comprehensive solutions to the recruitment and retention crisis in the home support sector. In response to the announcement by health minister, Stephen Donnelly,...

SIPTU Fire Fighters across the country have voted by an overwhelming majority of 82% to 18% to reject the Labour Court recommendation which was proposed as ‘an interim solution’ to their dispute last week. SIPTU Divisional Organiser, Karan O Loughlin...

SIPTU, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and Fórsa representatives, have today (Wednesday 19th July) expressed their deep and intense frustration with the Government over its failure to resolve a long standing pay dispute involving...

Photocall: 10.15 a.m. outside Liberty Hall with RESPECT campaign supporters 11.00 a.m. Live screening of the Ireland v Australia match in Liberty Hall Theatre (Limited tickets are available on Eventbrite`). SIPTU representatives will erect a special banner...

SIPTU Divisional Organiser, Adrian Kane, has welcomed a commitment by the Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, to provide increased payments to workers who lose their jobs and to link them to previous earnings. Under the proposed...

SIPTU members, along with those in Unite and Connect, have voted to accept proposals brokered by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in relation to the temporary lay-offs at Tara Mines. SIPTU members accepted the proposals with a 60% to 40% majority...

The SIPTU National Retained Firefighter Committee has expressed major disappointment at the terms of a Labour Court recommendation in relation to their dispute concerning staff and other issues in the service, following a meeting today (Tuesday, 11thJuly)....

SIPTU members employed in RTÉ met today (Tuesday, 11th July) at its headquarters in Donnybrook in Dublin to discuss the ongoing crisis at the national broadcaster and the arrival of the new Director General, Kevin Bakhurst. SIPTU Organiser,...

SIPTU, Connect and Unite trade unions have recommended acceptance of proposals brokered early this morning (Saturday, 8th July) at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to provide enhanced support for workers laid off during a temporary closure of Tara...

SIPTU members formally employed at the Rehab Enterprises logistics centre in Raheen, county Limerick, have voted to accept a redundancy package from the company following a successful protest campaign to highlight its breach of a collective agreement....

SIPTU has called on the Government to take immediate action to attempt to resolve the crisis facing workers, their families and the economy which will result from a temporary closure of Tara Mines in Navan, county Meath, which is scheduled to...

Irish Equity has said that it is time to ‘reset the clock’ at RTÉ and has committed its members to full engagement with the review that has been announced by the Government at the national broadcaster in response to the growing scandal in relation...

The ICTU Biennial Delegate Conference will tomorrow (Thursday, 6th July) debate an emergency motion calling for an immediate and major intervention by the Government to protect the continued operation of Tara Mines in Navan, county Meath. SIPTU TEAC...

SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Ethel Buckley, has called for a radical overhaul of the Unfair Dismissals Act to ensure that employers can no longer find it “cheap and easy to fire union activists”. Speaking at the ICTU Biennial Delegate...

SIPTU representatives have called on the Government to expedite measures to protect the livelihoods of members employed at Tara Mines and the long-term future of the facility in county Meath, following a meeting with ministers this afternoon (Monday, 3rd...

SIPTU representatives have met with management at the BD medical technology manufacturing plant in Drogheda, county Louth, to discuss an announcement that it intends to implement up to 60 job losses. SIPTU Organiser, Robbie Purfield, said:...

The trade union movement must develop a long-term industrial and enterprise strategy that prioritises prosperity, equality, better public services and improved living standards, SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, John King, told the ICTU...

SIPTU representatives will attend talks with government representatives on Monday (3rd July) and separate discussions at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) on Tuesday (4th July) concerning issues relating to the threatened temporary closure of Tara Mines in...

SIPTU members employed in Tara Mines in Navan, county Meath, have expressed anger at the rejection of union proposals to prevent the temporary closure of the facility which is now scheduled to commence on 14th July. They have called on the Government to...

SIPTU members employed in RTÉ, where it is the largest union organising over 700 members of staff, have called on its former Director General to respect the public and attend upcoming Oireachtas hearings concerning the hidden payments scandal at the...

Spending on old age social protection is among the lowest in the EU and the Government could well afford to honour a commitment to bring the state pension rate to least 34% of average earnings, a meeting of the Pensions Promise campaign in Cork was told today...

SIPTU representatives have said that swift action and genuine accountability are essential if the crisis in trust for station staff and the public concerning financial governance in RTÉ is to begin to be allayed following the emergence of hidden payments at the...

SIPTU members employed in the National Symphony Orchestra have referred issues related to health and safety concerns to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) following a failure of management to engage with union representatives on the matter. SIPTU Sector...

SIPTU representatives have today (Wednesday, 21st June) warned that the disparity in pay between workers in public and private home care services is leading to a staffing crisis in the sector which is severely affecting vulnerable clients. SIPTU Sector...

SIPTU representatives have today (Wednesday, 21st June) confirmed that the €1000 pandemic recognition payment has been paid to hundreds of members working as contract cleaners in hospitals following a public protest last week by the ‘Forgotten...

SIPTU representatives have highlighted the threat to the operation of mental health services through lack of staff and worker burnout at a Policy Forum for Ireland online seminar, on the ‘Next steps for mental health services in Ireland’ which took...

SIPTU members employed in the Retained Fire Service have suspended their industrial action in order to allow for a Labour Court hearing concerning the dispute to take place next Monday (26th June) at 10.00 a.m. in Lansdowne House, Lansdowne Road, Dublin 4....

A campaign aimed at ending poverty among pensioners was launched in Liberty Hall, Dublin, today (Monday, 19th June) with a call for the Government to honour its promise of a state contributory pension rate of 34% of average earnings. The launch was...

SIPTU representatives will join the National Women’s Council, Age Action, Active Retirement Ireland and members of the Senior Citizen’s Parliament to launch a Pension Promise campaign in Dublin today (Monday, 19th June). The campaign is...

The Labour Court has written to SIPTU representatives inviting them to exploratory discussions in relation to the retained fire service dispute at Landsdowne House, Dublin 2, on Monday (19th June) at 10.00 a.m. The Labour Court has separately written to...

SIPTU representatives will begin an intensive engagement with the management of Tara Mines in Navan, county Meath, on Monday (19th June) to discuss alternatives to its proposal to temporarily close the facility and place approximately 650 directly employed...

SIPTU members working in contract cleaning and security across Ireland are demanding that an Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar intervene to honour a commitment made to all essential frontline health workers in respect of the pandemic recognition payment. The demand comes...

SIPTU members employed as retained firefighters will begin to resign from the service in large numbers from the beginning of next week, the Government has been warned by SIPTU Public Administration and Community Division Organiser, Karan O Loughlin....

SIPTU members employed as retained firefighters have reacted with outrage to the response of Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, to their demands for immediate action to stem a recruitment and retention crisis...

SIPTU representatives were among a Tara Mines Group of Unions delegation which met with management this morning (Wednesday, 14th June) at Tara Mines, Navan, county Meath, to request that the company reconsider its decision to temporarily cease...

SIPTU Divisional Organiser, Adrian Kane, has said that workers at Tara mines are shocked and disappointed following the announcement by the company that it is to halt production and lay-off 650 employees in the coming weeks. He said: “SIPTU members...

SIPTU Retained Firefighter members will begin co-ordinated strike action tomorrow (Tuesday, 13th June) which will result in up to 50% of fire stations in the service closing in a dispute concerning a staff crisis which threatens this vital community resource....

At the Raise the Roof campaign rally in Cork city this afternoon (Saturday, 10th June), SIPTU TEAC Division Organiser, Adrian Kane, said that the worsening housing crisis will only be resolved by the election of a left-wing government to...

SIPTU representatives have expressed sincere condolences to the family and colleagues of John Murphy following his death due to injuries he received in a workplace accident at the Stryker plant at Anngrove in Carrigtwohill, County Cork, on 18th April....

SIPTU representatives have tonight (Thursday, 8th June) called on childcare services employers groups to show the leadership necessary to conclude a pay deal for workers in the sector at ongoing talks at the Early Years Joint Labour Committee which are taking...

SIPTU members will join with construction workers from across the EU in a call for the European Commission to take action to limit and curtail exploitation in sub-contracting chains in the construction sector at a protest in Brussels, Belgium, tomorrow...

A nationwide strike by SIPTU members in local authority water services has been averted following the decision by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, to concede to their demands to have all their earnings...

SIPTU members who work for local authorities in water services and in the Retained Fire Service have called on their employers to ensure that the public is prepared for any disruption caused by industrial and action due to commence next week. Local authority workers...

Cork City Council community wardens will commence a campaign of industrial action, including a picket on the headquarters of the local authority at City Hall, Anglesea Street, Cork, on Friday (26th May) at 9.00 a.m., in a dispute...

SIPTU members employed as Retained Fire Services firefighters by local authorities across the country will begin a campaign of industrial action on 6th June, in a dispute resulting from the failure of management to adequately address a worsening recruitment and...

SIPTU members employed in Tara Mines attended a general meeting in the New Grange Hotel in Navan, county Meath, on Monday (15th May) to discuss a proposed pay deal, the need to renew a drilling licence for the facility and other issues affecting its...

SIPTU representatives have confirmed today that they have served notice of strike and industrial action on 30 local authorities around the country. Stephen Kelly, water worker and chair of the SIPTU national negotiating committee said:  “We have taken...

Irish Equity has called for the full implementation of the recommendations contained in a report issued this week by the Oireachtas Committee on Budgetary Oversight concerning the operation of the Section 481-Film Tax Credit, saying they will benefit workers and...

SIPTU representatives held a general meeting of workers formerly employed at the Nuremore Hotel and Country Club in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, yesterday (Thursday, 11th May) to brief them on the appointment of a liquidator to the...

SIPTU members employed as radiation therapists are struggling to provide cancer treatments within the working day. In a recent survey of members conducted among union members, 91% of respondents said that their location provided an ‘overrun service’...