Search Site
IN THIS SECTION
- News Releases
- Diary Markers
- Comment
- Speeches
- Profiles
- Images
- Centenary Celebrations
- May Day Celebrations
- Lisbon Treaty
- General Secretary Election 2008
- Workers' World Newsletter
- The Union Post
- Liberty
- The Economy
Press Room
SIPTU General Secretary says Larkin’s message of social solidarity more important now than ever at launch of Commemorative Stamp
29.04.2009SIPTU General Secretary Joe O’Flynn says values of social solidarity espoused by Big Jim Larkin more important now than ever. He was speaking at the launch of the An Post stamp issued today to commemorate the centenary of the founding of SIPTU’s forerunner, the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union, in 1909.
Read Full Story...
Statements on Recent Developments in the Economy, Industrial Relations and Social Affairs
FÁS Out of Order on Minimum Wage
In this article, SIPTU Head of Research, Manus O'Riordan, examines the call from FÁS for a review of the minimum wage - first introduced in April 2000. At that time the minimum wage impacted on 13.5 percent of earners. By its own admission, FÁS acknowledges that the 2007 adjustments only impacted on 3.3 percent. In such circumstances, to have lent its weight to headlines that were grist to the mill of employers who want to roll back any moves to maintain the standards of the original minimum wage was a particularly shabby exercise on the part of FÁS.
What's happening with inflation? by Manus O'Riordan, Head of Research
There has been a basic difference in the inflationary developments operating over the course of the implementation of the pay provisions of the 36 month “Sustaining Progress” Agreement and those of the 27 month “Towards 2016” Agreement. Inflation was high at the outset of “Sustaining Progress” but was heading downwards. During “Towards 2016”, however, inflation has climbed, and will continue to climb somewhat more, before it should slow down in the latter part of this year. This, therefore, has had a differential impact on the real value of pre-tax average basic pay.
Controversy over new Children's Hospital
The controversy over the choice of the Mater site for a new children’s hospital begs more questions than answers. Over the past few weeks we have been treated to a series of claims and counter-claims. If even some of the concerns voiced by opponents of the project, especially child health professionals, are correct, a review is needed.
The case against privatisation
On November 17. 2004 the Taoiseach told the Dail, “I am not just going to click my fingers because right wing economists believe we should privatise. We are an island nation, heavily dependant on trade, overseas investment and tourism. There are very important strategic issues which have to be satisfactorily resolved."
A lot has happened since that Dail statement and in the year of Aer Lingus’s 70th birthday, the national carrier is set to be delivered to the private sector, where shareholder interest will be paramount over any lingering concerns that the Taoiseach has for the national interest in this open island economy.
Future of social partnership in the balance
06.10.2005Future of social partnership in the balance
Read Full Story...
Sustaining Progress tax commitments far from being met
06.10.2005Sustaining Progress tax commitments far from being met
Read Full Story...
SIPTU favours deferral of decision on pay talks
26.10.2005SIPTU favours deferral of decision on pay talks
Read Full Story...
SIPTU condemns inflation complacency
10.11.2005SIPTU condemns inflation complacency
Read Full Story...
Driving Down Labour Standards
12.01.2006Unregulated immigration and unscrupulous hiring practices are undermining wages and conditions. That is why the Irish trade union movement, together with ever-increasing sections of Irish society, remains opposed to the "country of origin" principle in the proposed services directive that seeks to extend the race to the bottom still further, writes Manus O'Riordan, SIPTU's Head of Research.
Read Full Story...
Are Trade Unions Up for Change? The General President addresses the Progressive Democrates, April 22, 2006
21.04.2006‘Change’ is not a neutral word. It is laden with potential and consequence. It can be employed in the promotion of all sorts of objectives, always conveying an aura of goodness.
Read Full Story...
State must act decisively to control inflation
The Government has the power to curb inflation by cutting excise duties, but it is too complacent, writes Manus O'Riordan. I don't wish to quibble with the Minister for Finance's statement that "any sense of complacency is an especially serious threat, but so is a lack of proportion" (Opinion, July 13th). But it is when I read of the Minister going to Brussels on July 11th in order to intone in French the rhetorical question, "what is the problem?", that I begin to have some doubts. For it seems to me that an unacceptable degree of complacency has set in just because the year-on-year rate of inflation for June has been "held" at 3.9 per cent.
'Mandy' - Special Savings for Retirement: Report on Mandatory Pension System
The full title of the Pensions Board’s most recent report is ‘Special Savings for Retirement: Report on Mandatory Pension System by the Pensions Board for Seamus Brennan, Minister for Social and Family Affairs’. Let’s just call it Mandy for short!
Mandy was released by the government last week; and was immediately the victim of misinterpretation, misrepresentation – and perhaps just some simple misunderstanding. Because admittedly, Mandy is a fairly complex creature, with a somewhat murky past, peculiar parentage – and genuinely difficult to understand!
Bus-using public deserves a properly integrated transport policy
13.09.2006Public transport deregulation offers little if any improvement in service, higher fares and worse conditions, writes Mick Halpenny. In the course of his opinion piece in the Irish Times on Saturday, September 2, 2006 on the subject of bus supply, Senator Tom Morrissey of the Progressive Democrats dwelt heavily on supposed threats from bus unions, public funding of CIE and the purported benefits of competitive tendering.
Read Full Story...
Is There Too Much Labour Regulation in Ireland? by Jack O'Connor - speaking at the ISME National Conference ' Challenging Minds in Changing Times' on October 6, 2006
This is the first time I have ever been invited to address any event organised by ISME. I appreciate the invitation and indeed I was surprised by it. I don’t know that I can usefully contribute to your deliberations, but can I respectfully say that I think you have more important issues upon which you can usefully spend your time than discussing whether there is too much labour market regulation in Ireland.
'Supporting Workplace Change' by Jack O'Connor speaking at the IBEC HR Summit 2006: 'Managing Uncertainty - Exploding the Change Myth' on October 10, 2006
“On the whole the past is more congenial than the present, and the present is much to be preferred to the future”. The second is as follows:“In human history, the agricultural revolution – where our ancestors moved from being hunter-gatherers to farmers - took around 3,000 years. The industrial revolution took around 300 years while the information revolution took around thirty years. The rate of change is growing exponentially."
Stronger and better enforced labour regulation is needed
20.10.2006Comment: Is there too much labour regulation in Ireland? I was recently invited to address Isme members on the question of whether or not there is too much regulation of the labour market.
Read Full Story...
Agreed new labour standards must be seen to work before open border status granted to Romania and Bulgaria
Speaking at the Union's Regional Conferences, SIPTU General President, Jack O'Connor told delegates that agreed new labour standards must be implemented and enforcement in place before open border status is extended to Romania or Bulgaria. Otherwise he said Ireland will continue to witness the exploitation of vulnerable migrant labour to drive down pay levels and dismantle pensions.
Jack O’Connor, General President, addressing the Northern Regional Conference of SIPTU in City Hotel, Derry, on Saturday, October 28, 2006
It is an honour to address the Northern Regional Conference of SIPTU at an important time in the history of the North, and in the history of our Union. The next few months will be crucial in determining whether the government of Northern Ireland returns to its people and our own resolve will be tested, north and south, in ensuring a greater say for organised workers in reforming two very unequal societies.
Address by General President Jack O'Connor at the launch of the Union's campaign against the proposed Services Directive, January 13, 2006
The proposed Services Directive has enormous implications for labour standards in Ireland. Indeed, it is no understatement to say that if implemented in its present form, the Directive has the potential to destroy gains made by the trade union movement over a period of thirty years or more.
CSO figures confirm 'race to bottom' in private sector
08.11.2005CSO figures confirm 'race to bottom' in private sector
Read Full Story...
SIPTU favours deferral of decision on pay talks
24.10.2005SIPTU special delegate conference October 24 2005
Read Full Story...
Previous and Next: Diary Markers | Speeches