News Archive

SIPTU representatives have condemned what they have described as ‘craven attempts’ by IBEC, the employers body, to pressurise the Government into pausing further increases in the minimum wage and improvements in statutory sick pay. Responding...

The SIPTU National Executive Council (NEC) today (Thursday, 18th January) expressed their full support and solidarity for all striking workers across Northern Ireland. Speaking following a meeting of the NEC this afternoon in Liberty Hall, Dublin,...

SIPTU members employed by Kerry Agribusiness will begin a campaign of strike action at 9.00 a.m. on Wednesday, 17th January, due to the company’s decision to impose compulsory redundancies. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Denis Gormalley, said:...

SIPTU, the union representing mental health workers, has criticised the Department of Health and the Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler TD, for excluding workers from discussions on the delivery of services. The criticism...

SIPTU representatives will meet with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney, next week to discuss the threat to the future of Tara Mines in Navan, county Meath, and the actions needed to safeguard this vital economic...

SIPTU has said the unilateral release by Tara Mines management of a strategy document proposing voluntary redundancy terms is "reckless" and "aimed more at public relations than negotiating in good faith. "The union said that senior figures in the...

A banner calling for a ‘CEASEFIRE NOW’ has been raised on Liberty Hall, Dublin, to reflect the full support of SIPTU and the vast majority of the public in Ireland for an immediate halt to the ongoing atrocities in Gaza, the West Bank and...

SIPTU representatives have expressed disappointment at the Labour Court referring issues related to the temporary closure of Tara Mines, county Meath, back to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in a decision published today (Tuesday, 2nd...

SIPTU members employed by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) have expressed “extreme disappointment” at the responses provided to elected representatives by FAI CEO, Jonathan Hill, at a meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on...

The SIPTU Workers’ Rights Centre has secured an award for a member employed by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) following his unfair dismissal after 37 years of service. In a decision made yesterday (Thursday, 14th December), the Workplace Relations...

SIPTU has given a cautious welcome to today's statement that Tara Mines is to reopen in the second quarter of 2024. However, the union has said that any further delays "would not be acceptable," citing the previous reopening in 2001. John...

SIPTU has said that the proposed outsourcing of Shannon Heritage DAC staff will result in redundancies at some of Ireland's most iconic tourist sites. Workers are still reeling from the announcement that Clare County Council intends to outsource the food and...

SIPTU members have expressed their solidarity with the victims of the vicious attack on Parnell Square in Dublin yesterday and, in particular, of the young girl and childcare worker who were so badly injured. SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, John King...

SIPTU representatives have condemned the Tara Mines management for its "abject failure" after weeks of negotiations failed to agree a facilitation process. Workers at Tara Mines have been temporarily laid off for 130 days, which the union describes as...

SIPTU has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis that the Government intends to introduce pay-related Jobseeker's Benefit but says the approach proposed is "nowhere near good...

SIPTU members working with Shannon Heritage DAC have said they are shocked at the decision by Clare County Council to outsource the food and beverage, and retail jobs at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Craggaunowen, Knappogue Castle and the retail...

SIPTU representatives will meet with the management of Lakeland Dairies to discuss the dairy processor’s announcement this week of the proposed closure of its milk processing plants in Monaghan Town and in Lough Egish, Co. Monaghan. The company announced...

A trade union revival is needed to push back the "global attack on workers' rights", RMT union General Secretary told SIPTU's Biennial Delegate Conference (BDC) in Galway today. The British trade union leader said that the labour movement...

Greg Ennis has been elected as SIPTU's Deputy General Secretary for the Private Sector at the union's Biennial Delegate Conference (BDC) in Galway. Athboy-native Ennis, who joined the union's Meath branch thirty-eight years ago, previously...

The Irish Government could be "complicit" in the genocide that the Israeli government is carrying out against the Palestinian people in Gaza, the SIPTU Biennial Delegate Conference (BDC) in Galway was told today. Omar Barghouti, the co-founder of...

SIPTU has acknowledged the invitation by Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, to enter negotiations with the Government on the potential for a new public service pay agreement under the...

SIPTU has called for the 400 job cuts announced by RTÉ management as part of its 'New Direction for RTÉ' to be reversed. "We are calling for the reversal of the 400 job cuts announced today," SIPTU Divisional Organiser,...

Trade unions must be at the heart of the debate over Irish reunification, SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Gerry McCormack, told the union's Biennial Delegate Conference (BDC) in Galway today. McCormack argued that Brexit had...

Delegates at the SIPTU Biennial Delegate Conference (BDC) have called for an immediate cessation of all hostilities in Gaza. The delegates passed the emergency motion proposed by Cathal Rogers of the Meath District Council of the union at the conference in Galway...

SIPTU members working in the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) have criticised the organisation's "double standards" after recent pay revelations surrounding its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jonathan Hill. Media reporting this weekend...

SIPTU will head into the next general election aiming to fight for a workers' agenda, its Deputy General Secretary, Ethel Buckley, told the union's Biennial Delegate Conference (BDC) in Galway today. The combative speech – which...

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, 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 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 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...

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 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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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:...

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:...

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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...