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Press Room
2009
Construction workers left over €48,000 short as contractor drags feet over wages and pension contributions
21.12.2009SIPTU members employed by Westmeath companies, Oliver Donlon Development Limited and Clare Hill Plant Ltd, have found they will not be paid outstanding wages in the run up to Christmas. The 25 members concerned are owed €48,375 in arrears. The amounts vary from €1,398 to €3,961 each, and range from between six weeks and two weeks wages for work carried out on multi-million euro state contracts.
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FAIR DEAL ALLIANCE FORMED IN SLIGO
18.12.2009SIPTU and other unions on Sligo Trade’s Council have agreed with local traders on a discount scheme for union members to protect retail jobs in the town and area. Following a controversy ignited by recent remarks by SIPTU Branch official, John McCarrick, in relation to the numbers of people shopping across the border the unions and local business people have joined in the job protection initiative.
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ANTI-BUDGET PROTEST OUTSIDE THE DÁIL
16.12.2009Hundreds of public service workers, including nurses, teachers and other Government workers protested against budget pay and social welfare cuts outside Leinster House on Tuesday evening (December 15).
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Central Bank advocates pay cuts but escapes the axe
16.12.2009“It is a cruel irony that the lowest paid public servants and the unemployed will endure cuts of up to 5% but the wholly owned Anglo Irish Bank, the Central Bank and the Financial Services Authority, whose failures triggered the collapse of the economy will once again avoid the consequences”, Dave Hughes, Deputy General Secretary of the Irish Nurses Organisation said today. He was speaking after a meeting of the 24/7 Frontline Services Alliance held to discuss the emergency legislation currently being pushed through the Dail.
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SIPTU members in CIE reject calls for pay cuts
14.12.2009SIPTU members in CIE have rejected calls by the Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan, for pay cuts in the commercial semi-state transport body.
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SIPTU Youth responds to Budget
14.12.2009“Last week’s budget represented the most draconian attack on working people since the foundation of the State. The worst hit by Brian Cowen and Brian Lenihan’s litany of cuts were those unfortunate enough to be born after 1985,” said Conor O’Gorman of SIPTU Youth.
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BUDGET 2010 - CHRISTMAS BONANZA FOR THE RICH
11.12.2009All the eggs have been placed in the basket of the banks which were central to the ruination of our economy in the first place. The Government has entered into a commitment of €54 billion of public money to rescue the shareholders and bondholders in the hope that the banks will begin lending to business again. Ironically, these banks will almost certainly require more than the €4 billion which has been taken from working people and those who depend on public services in this budget in order to keep them afloat next year. However, this did not merit any reference in the Minister’s budget speech.
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SIPTU General Secretary Joe O’Flynn says ‘cruel, uncaring’ Budget an obstacle to recovery
10.12.2009SIPTU General Secretary Joe O’Flynn has told a meeting in Cork today to celebrate the Union’s Centenary that it would not betray its heritage and would continue to defend the interests of working people in the present crisis.
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ICTU AND SIPTU PRESIDENT SLAMS UNJUST AND UNCARING BUDGET
09.12.2009The President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and General President of SIPTU has attacked Budget 2010 as 'callous, unjust and uncaring'. In his response to the budget speech, Jack O'Connor said; "Budget 2010 must rank as the most callous, unjust and uncaring budget introduced by any Minister for Finance since the 1930's in this country. It represents a merciless attack on working people and the most vulnerable in our community while the wealthy in our society escape virtually untouched.
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Middle ranking Gardai condemn Budget measures that cut pay indiscriminately across the public service
09.12.2009The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors has deplored the attack on its members in the Budget and the decision to impose pay cuts on low income public servants. AGSI is part of the 24/7 Frontline Services Alliance representing 100,000 public sector workers.
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Frontline Alliance supports campaign by Garda representative bodies for full trade union status
08.12.2009The 24/7 Frontline Services Alliance fully supports the Garda Representative Association and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors in their demand for full trade union status. It took its decision at a meeting earlier today. The Alliance will be closely monitoring developments.
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Unions say Government has turned its back on public service transformation
04.12.2009The ICTU Public Services Committee today (Friday) accused the Government of turning its back on a deal that would have delivered a massive transformation in the delivery of public services, met the Government’s required reductions in 2010 payroll costs, and avoided a second public service pay cut in less than a year.
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PUBLIC SERVICE TALKS COLLAPSE
04.12.2009Negotiations between public service unions and government employers, with a view to formulating a proposal for agreement on transformation in the public service, have broken down. The objective was to optimise the quality and delivery of public services while simultaneously protecting terms and conditions of employment against the background of the most severe budgetary crisis in the history of the State.
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CONGRESS: DECISION TO END TALKS A “CATASTROPHIC PUBLIC POLICY FAILURE”
04.12.2009The Irish Congress of Trade Unions said today (December 4) that it noted with astonishment and deep regret the Government decision to terminate discussions with the Public Services Committee on its alternative approach to achieving a €1.3 billion cut in the public sector pay bill.
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Frontline Alliance says misrepresentation of unpaid leave proposals by some media is preventing honest debate of rescue package for economy
03.12.2009The attempt by some elements in the media to misrepresent the emerging accord between the Government and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions over unpaid leave to help restore the public finances is mischievous, misleading and, most importantly, has the capacity to derail a major initiative that is in the public interest, the 24/7 Frontline Services Alliance said today.
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A Fair Budget means Wealthy must Pay More
02.12.2009Congress General Secretary David Begg said today (Dec. 2) that Government must now “choose between continued deference to the very wealthy or genuine support for low to middle income earners and the vulnerable in Irish society.” Speaking at the launch of the Congress pre-Budget Submission, Mr Begg said new taxes on wealth could “generate substantial new resources for the state. We no longer have the luxury of maintaining the fiction that all the wealth in this country has suddenly evaporated. It has not and, in the interests of wider society, it must be pursued and taxed.
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Christy Moore sings for flood victims at Liberty Hall
01.12.2009Singer, Christy Moore, will perform at the SIPTU Centenary Celebration Concert in Liberty Hall on Monday next 7th December in aid of the victims of recent floods across Ireland.
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Frontline Alliance welcomes progress but remains vigilant as talks enter next stage
01.12.2009Frontline Services Alliance has welcomed the very significant progress made in talks between the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the Government today. “It represents an important step forward in the search for a fair and equitable way of addressing the problems created by the current economic crisis for the delivery of public services”, the General Secretary of the Irish Nurses Organisation, Liam Doran, who is also secretary of the Alliance said this evening.
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SIPTU says considerable progress made in Aer Lingus talks
01.12.2009Considerable progress has been made in lengthy talks between SIPTU and Aer Lingus management representatives concerning ground operations and head office/support at the airline.
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PRIVATE SECTOR MANAGERS MADE MOST IN BOOM
30.11.2009A call for a more reasoned debate on the economy was made by SIPTU Head of Research, Manus O’Riordan, today. He was speaking at the launch of an analysis of wage trends since the late 1990s, with a particular emphasis on the period since 2005. Entitled, ‘Separating Fact from Fiction on Earnings: The Use and Abuse of Statistics’, it shows that the largest single divergence in pay over the past decade has not been between public and private sector workers but between private sector managers and all other groups.
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Job cuts mean vital engineering staff let go by Dublin City Council
27.11.2009SIPTU has condemned the failure of Dublin City Council to maintain employment levels among engineers with direct responsibility for emergency planning, flood prevention and protection and environmental protection. Six graduate engineers are being let go next week, including the most highly qualified expert in Major Emergency Planning, because of the jobs freeze.If planned job cuts continue there will be a reduction of 20 per cent in the number of engineers by 2010. Six graduate engineers deemed to be temporary staff are the latest tranche affected. They will not have their contracts renewed by the Council next Monday. Contracts for two other graduate engineers will run out in April.
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Community workers campaign to save jobs in Dublin North-East tomorrow
26.11.2009On Friday, November 27, SIPTU activists from the Dublin North East electoral area will hand over a petition with more than 1,000 signatures to Tommy Broughan TD as a part of the SIPTU Campaign ‘Equality for Community Employment Workers’. The sector is among those targeted for drastic cuts by the McCarthy Report.
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Garda Associations seek fairness from Government and trade union talks
25.11.2009The Garda Representative Association (GRA) welcomes the renewed talks between the Government and trade union leaders to address the current economic crisis in a fair and equitable way. We hope that further industrial action can be avoided and a strategy agreed that balances the need for fiscal adjustment with the protection of essential frontline public services and those who provide them.
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Frontline Alliance welcomes resumption of talks between Government and Public Services Committee of ICTU
25.11.2009The Chairman of the 24/7 Frontline Services Alliance Des Kavanagh has welcomed the resumption of talks between the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the Government today over how to address the current economic crisis in a fair and equitable way. “We hope that further industrial action can be avoided but we will be carefully monitoring the talks to ensure that any proposals emerging from them take into account the special conditions in which frontline emergency workers operate”, he said.
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Strong Frontline Alliance support for the public service strike
24.11.2009There was a massive turnout by 24/7 Frontline Services Alliance members during today’s strike against further unilateral cuts in pay, conditions and services by the Government. Members of the Garda representative bodies, who are not allowed to take industrial action, demonstrated their support for the action by not carrying out a number of discretionary activities.
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Only viable strategy for economic recovery is through agreement with strong social dividend warns SIPTU General President
23.11.2009The General President of SIPTU, Jack O’Connor, has outlined the priorities of his members in talks on a new national agreement. He was speaking at the Annual Countess Markievicz Memorial Lecture, which was held in Liberty Hall this evening. He warned that only through agreement between the Government, unions and employers was a viable and sustainable economic recovery possible and that it must have a strong social dividend to be acceptable to workers.
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All Cork Hospitals exempted from strike tomorrow
23.11.2009All hospitals in Cork City and County have now been exempted from the industrial action tomorrow by SIPTU for humanitarian reasons. The union represents, nurses, paramedics and support service grades.
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SIPTU local authority workers in County Cork and in two Cork hospitals join those exempted from industrial action on Tuesday
23.11.2009SIPTU outdoor staff members with County Cork are to join their colleagues in Cork City and counties Clare and Galway in continuing to work on Tuesday (November 24) to combat flood and storm damage. SIPTU hospital support services staff at the Mercy Hospital and St Finbarr’s in the city will also be working to help deal with the flood crisis.
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SIPTU local authority workers in Cork City exempted from industrial action on Tuesday to tackle storm and flood damage
22.11.2009SIPTU outdoor staff members with Cork City Council have been exempted from industrial action on Tuesday (November 24) so that they can continue tackling the extensive damage caused by the recent storms and floods.
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SIPTU local authority workers in Clare and Galway defer industrial action to tackle storm and flood damage
22.11.2009Over 1,200 SIPTU members working for local authorities in Clare and Galway have decided to defer strike action on Tuesday, November 24th because of the urgent need to tackle the extensive damage caused by storms and floods to their communities. The strike action, which is against further unilateral cuts in pay, conditions and services threatened by the Government and in pursuit of ICTU’s ‘Fairer, Better Way Campaign, will take place at a later date still to be decided.
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SUPPORT PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS
20.11.2009Tens of thousands of public sector workers will stage a one day strike on Tuesday (24th November) in protest against government plans to enforce pay and pension cuts in the December budget.
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TASC-ICTU Hierarchy of Earnings, Attributes and Privilege (H.E.A.P) Report
18.11.2009The equality think-tank TASC and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions have launched the Hierarchy of Earnings, Attributes and Privilege (H.E.A.P.) report, designed to present the facts about income inequality in Ireland in an accessible form.
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SIPTU Public Service members vote for industrial and strike action by large majority
17.11.2009Earlier this year, SIPTU obtained extensive mandates to promote industrial action and strike action in pursuit of the terms of the Transitional Agreement (September 2008) or an Agreed Alternative. The proposition sought renewed approval for the promotion of industrial action and strike action in pursuit of compliance with the Transitional Agreement or an Agreed Alternative in each case.
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Craft workers in local authorities and health services decide to support 24 hour ICTU strike on November 24th
17.11.2009The Local Authority and Health Service Craftworkers Group of Unions has served notice of Industrial Action up to and including All Out Strike on the Local Government Management Service Board and the Health Service Executive. The Group represents 5,000 workers in local authorities, hospitals and other public facilities throughout the state. They are responsible for care and maintenance facilities.
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LIBERTY ONLINE
16.11.2009Liberty Online is a new publication from the Communications Department of SIPTU.
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Frontline Alliance asks TDs to state position on McCarthy cuts to services
14.11.2009Frontline Alliance Questionnaire to Dail Deputies asks them to state position on cutbacks recommended by McCarthy in the public services.
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Frontline Alliance warns Government not to test resolve of members by targeting emergency services for cuts
11.11.2009The Chairman of the 24/7 Frontline Services Alliance, Des Kavanagh, has told a protest march to Leinster House today that fairness requires “a universal contribution by all who can afford it” to tackle the economic crisis. Bankers, speculators and other wealthy elements in society could not be exempted at the expense of ordinary workers dependent on frontline services. He warned the Government not to test the resolve of Frontline workers, who were committed public servants but not fools.
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Agreement ends strike at Longford Nursing Home
10.11.2009Striking workers in our Lady’s Manor Nursing Home in Longford will return to work over the next number of weeks following settlement proposals agreed by all parties to the dispute with the Rights Commissioner on Friday last (November 6, 2009).
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Frontline Alliance says today’s protests by ICTU are harnessing the anger of all PAYE workers to start campaign for a fairer deal
06.11.2009The Government, IBEC and ISME have “played a blinder in repeatedly shifting the focus of blame for the current crisis away from their own incompetence and putting the blame on dedicated men and women in the public service, thus sowing division between public and private sectors”, AGSI General Secretary Joe Dirwan said this morning when urging members of the 24/7 Frontline Services Alliance to support the Irish Congress of Trade Unions marches throughout the State.
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Frontline Alliance calls on members to join other PAYE workers at ICTU protests tomorrow
05.11.2009The 24/7 Frontline Alliance is calling on all members who are available to support the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Day of Action tomorrow in Dublin and the seven regional centres throughout the state. As always, Frontline personnel will ensure there is adequate emergency cover.
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SIPTU household hospital staff organise protest outside Government Buildings as national talks resume
03.11.2009SIPTU hospital support staff held a protest outside Government Buildings as talks on a national agreement resumed this afternoon. They believe they are one of the groups most at risk of losing their jobs if HSE management succeeds with its new plans to outsource their work to subcontractors.
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Communities against Cuts campaign calls for support for ICTU national day of protest on Friday 6th November
03.11.2009The ‘Communities against Cuts’ campaign has called on all community workers, voluntary activists and residents to participate in the ICTU protest on Friday, 6th November in the eight selected towns and cities.
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NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION – NOVEMBER 6TH
03.11.2009We need as many people as possible to come out onto the streets on November 6th and make their voices heard. There are eight demonstrations happening at different centres thoughout the country. Let your work colleagues, friends and family know about this day of action and help make it a success. There are 8 regional protests all commence at 2.30pm on November 6th: These are: Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Sligo, Tullamore, and Dundalk.
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Frontline Alliance agrees to support ICTU Day of Protest on November 6th
02.11.2009The 24/7 Frontline Alliance is to give full support to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions day of protest on November 6th in Dublin and at the seven regional centres of Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Sligo, Galway, Tullamore and Dundalk. After the meeting with the ICTU, the Chairman of the Alliance, Des Kavanagh said, "We fully support the protests organised by Congress on Friday and all our affiliates will be taking part, including those organisations such as my own, the Psychiatric Nurses Association, which are not members of Congress."
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Communities in South West Protest against cuts
02.11.2009Community organisations campaigning against cuts are calling on all sections of society in the South West to support them in their protest on Thursday November 5th at 12.30 p.m. starting at the Mechanics Institute on Pery’s Square in Limerick.
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Congress 10 Point Plan for National Recovery
02.11.2009Congress has launched a 10 Point Plan for National Recovery as part of its campaign of opposition to the Government's handling of the current crisis.
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Kildare trade unions to mount colourful ‘March for Justice’ in Naas in support of Green Isle strikers
30.10.2009The Kildare Council of Trade Unions is planning a spectacular and loud demonstration of solidarity with its ‘March for Justice’ with the Green Isle strikers in Naas tomorrow (Saturday October 31). There is cross-party support for the demonstration. Most of the TDs for Kildare are expected to attend as well as Socialist Party MEP Joe Higgins and the President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Jack O’Connor.
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Frontline Alliance to meet ICTU on Monday to co-ordinate activities on November 6th
30.10.2009The Frontline Services Alliance agreed today to fully support the Irish Congress of Trade Unions protests in Dublin and other centres next Friday, November 6th. Alliance representatives are meeting with ICTU on Monday to discuss how best to co-ordinate their activities with Congress to maximise support for the campaign for ‘a better, fairer way’ of tackling the economic crisis and protecting vital services to the public.
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Minister’s extravagance will harm jobs at Ireland’s Airports
30.10.2009SIPTU has criticised as extravagant the intention by the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, to appoint new boards to each of the three airports run by the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA).
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Settlement agreed in Mr. Binman Dispute
30.10.2009The Labour Relations Commission (LRC) today announced that the parties to the long running “Mr Binman” dispute have, following the intervention of the Commission, accepted settlement proposals negotiated in the course of recent talks.
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20th Anniversary of Health and Safety Act
29.10.2009Sunday, November 1, 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989. The Act ensured that, for the first time in Ireland, occupational safety and health legislation covered 100% of workers and of workplaces. Prior to this only an estimated 20% of workers were covered, mainly in factories, construction, mines & quarries, etc.
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Frontline Alliance members outside ICTU to monitor talks between the social partners closely
28.10.2009The General Secretary of the Irish Nurses Organisation, Liam Doran, said tonight that the opening session of talks between unions and Government on how to achieve €1.3 billion in savings on the public services had been the difficult. While committed to achieving a satisfactory outcome if possible to the negotiations he made it clear that there could be no interference with frontline workers’ pay and allowances.
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MARCH FOR JUSTICE – GREEN ISLE STRIKE - 10 WEEKS ON
28.10.2009As you know the TEEU is in official dispute with Green Isle Foods, Naas. This dispute is the result of our efforts to have reinstated seven of our members who were wrongfully dismissed.
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Communities Against Cuts
28.10.2009Communities Against Cuts. Workers and communities are being attacked by Government proposals to cut wages and services. We have a short time before the next budget to show that ordinary people are not going to accept all the pain for the mistakes of bankers and property developers.
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SIPTU President says Government has rewritten history of €4 billion fiscal adjustment plan agreed with EU Commission before talks
25.10.2009As the Irish Congress of Trade Unions prepares to re-engage with the Government and other social partners on the possibilities of an agreed approach to the present crisis, ICTU President and SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor said it was important “to alert the public to the fact that the Government’s fiscal plan, which was approved by the European Commission, did not envisage a €4 billion cut in public expenditure in 2010.
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STATEMENT BY LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN — DUBLIN LORD MAYOR PRAISES THE WORKERS AND LOCAL COMMUNITY AS MTL STRIKE ENDS
23.10.2009The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Emer Costello, has welcomed the end of the fifteen week long MTL strike at Dublin Port. The Company, Peel Holdings, has agreed to the Labour Court recommendations on job retention and redundancies. A meeting will take place today, (Friday, 23rd October) to negotiate the return to work.
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Alliance members to begin ballots for industrial action as campaign against cuts in frontline services enters new phase
22.10.2009Unions representing 100,000 frontline public service workers are to begin balloting members immediately for industrial action in case the Government delivers on its threats to introduce further cuts in pay and services. The executives of the six unions in the 24/7 Frontline Service Alliance decided to escalate their campaign at a joint meeting in Liberty Hall, Dublin this morning.
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SIPTU WELCOMES END TO 15 WEEK DISPUTE AT MARINE TERMINALS
21.10.2009The fifteen week dispute at Marine Terminals Ltd in Dublin Port has ended following a decision by the company to accept a Labour Court recommendation on job retention and redundancies. The Labour Court recommended an improved redundancy package of six weeks inclusive of statutory entitlements and recommended that the parties engage directly with a view to resolving other matters including the number of jobs to be retained.
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Congress to Launch Campaign of Opposition
19.10.2009On Wednesday (October 21) the Irish Congress of Trade Unions will formally launch its public campaign of opposition to Government inaction on the jobs crisis; to proposed cuts in peoples’ incomes and cuts in vital services.
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Letter from David Begg, ICTU General Secretary
21.10.2009Dear Friend This is not a letter to remind you how bad things are in this country. You hear that news every day and may already have been affected. This is about how we can get through the crisis without forcing low and middle income families to bear all the burden. It is about how we can emerge in better shape on the other side and make sure the same mistakes are not repeated.
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ITF Rally Supports Dublin Dockworkers
16.10.2009Members of the MUA and the RTBU which are both affiliated to the International Transport Federation rallied outside the Collins Street headquarters of Deutsche Bank on Friday 16th October, in support of Dublin Dockworkers who have been on strike for 15 weeks.
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SIPTU members uncovered irregularities in FÁS
15.10.2009The management of FÁS has agreed with SIPTU that any companies contracted to carry out training work for the agency are fully compliant with its procedures.
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Frontline unions warn Government they will fight any further cuts
14.10.2009“Our relationship with the State is not a one way street”, the Vice President of the Garda Representative Association Damien McCarthy warned the Government at the final regional meeting of the 24/7 Frontline Service Alliance in The Helix in Dublin this evening. “This Government has repeatedly refused to meet with the Garda Representative Association and has denied us access to any industrial relations mechanism. They have pushed us into a corner.”
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Statement from PDFORRA, air accident
13.10.2009PDFORRA wishes to extend sincere sympathy to the families of the two Air Corps personnel who lost their lives in an air accident yesterday. We also wish to extend our sympathies to their colleagues in the Air Corp who will also be deeply affected by this sudden loss.
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SIPTU leader condemns ESRI support for Government policy of placing entire burden of fiscal adjustment on working people
13.10.2009Jack O’Connor, President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and General President of SIPTU, commenting on media reports this morning on the latest views expressed by the Economic and Social Research Institute in its quarterly review said: “While at least opposing the obscenity of cutting welfare rates, the Institute is nevertheless continuing its dutiful role as a cheer leader for the Government policy of imposing the entire burden of fiscal adjustment on working people and the less well-off, while the wealthy are insulated from any requirement to contribute at all.
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‘Gagged’ PDFORRA calls on Alliance to speak out for all those providing essential services to public
12.10.2009PDFORRA sent a letter to the South-East regional meeting of the 24/7 Frontline Services Alliance this evening in Kilkenny. The organisation has been told it cannot participate in the Alliance campaign to oppose cuts in front line services or speak at its meetings. However in the letter, PDFORRA General Secretary Gerry Rooney states that it will continue to support the objectives of the other front line unions.
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SIPTU seeks meeting with HSEEA over pay claim as over 34,000 members ballot for industrial action from November 6th
11.10.2009SIPTU is seeking an urgent meeting with the head of the Health Services Executive Employers Agency, Sean McGrath, as it begins balloting members for industrial action in pursuit of the 3.5% part increase due under the first phase of the Transitional Agreement since September 1. The Union’s Health Services Sectoral Organiser Paul Bell served the claim on behalf of over 34,000 members in State funded hospitals and institutions throughout the Republic two weeks ago.
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24/7 Frontline Service Alliance — Garda representatives say anger and fear being expressed by members over cutbacks at DVD launch and PDFORRA letter to be read out at Kilkenny rally tonight
12.10.2009The 24/7 Alliance launched a DVD this morning in Dublin which will be on the web after 1pm, making the case against further cutbacks in pay, operational conditions and services to the public. It can be viewed at http://vimeo.com/6985236 or the sites of affiliated organisations.
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SIPTU calls for urgent construction stimulus package
09.10.2009A €5 billion construction package to create 75,000 construction jobs was demanded at the centenary conference of SIPTU today. It also called for mortgage interest relief to be maintained for home owners.
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SIPTU conference calls on Green Party to ‘help rescue us all’ from NAMA legislation at last session of union’s centenary conference in Tralee
09.10.2009SIPTU delegates at the closing session of the union’s Centenary conference in Tralee today, have called on the Green Party to reject the NAMA Bill, when it meets on Saturday. However they rejected a call to hold a mass protest outside the Green Party conference.
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SIPTU UNVEILS DESIGN FOR PROPOSED ‘NEW’ LIBERTY HALL AT CENTENARY CONFERENCE
08.10.2009New building will strengthen landmark status of Liberty Hall in capital city SIPTU, the country’s largest trade union, has today (Thursday, 8 October) unveiled the design for the proposed ‘new’ Liberty Hall at its centenary conference in Tralee, Co Kerry. The presentation of the design was made to delegates by the union’s General Secretary, Joe O’Flynn, and Des McMahon, director of the union’s architects, Gilroy McMahon. SIPTU intends to make an application for the re-development of Liberty Hall to the planning authority, Dublin City Council, within the next few weeks.
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SIPTU warns Aer Lingus that it cannot see any basis for further draconian measures
07.10.2009SIPTU will consider the implications of the Aer Lingus Transformation Plan. It is currently evaluating the company’s statement to the stock exchange.
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Unions are about defending the dignity and power of ordinary working people SIPTU conference is told
06.10.2009“Trade unions are fundamentally about two things, and they’re not wages and conditions. They are power and dignity”, Irish Times columnist told Fintan O’Toole told the SIPTU centennial conference in Tralee today.
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GILMORE CONDEMNS SCAPEGOATING OF PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS CALLS FOR MAJOR REFORM OF PUBLIC SERVICES
06.10.2009Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore told the Centenary Conference of SIPTU that the time had come to build a “New Republic” governed on “real republican principles. We have to end the connection between big business and politics. No more special favours for special friends. We have to establish new rules of corporate Governance – ending the practice where you sit on my board and I’m on your audit committee.
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SIPTU President condemns practitioners of ‘hit and run’ economics and outlines union strategy in current economic crisis
05.10.2009SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor has condemned attempts to rewrite history by apologists for the rich elite in society. He said their main objective was to remove “inconvenient truths” from the record and divide workers in order to make them pay for an economic crisis not of their making. He criticised regulators who looked the other way when the crisis was developing and were now being replaced by practitioners of ‘hit and run’ economics, driving the nation towards another crash.
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SIPTU General President rejects IBEC call for pay freeze and says it is time employers’ made contribution to economic recovery
05.10.2009Responding angrily to IBEC’s call for a 12 month pay freeze, SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor said, “IBEC does not seem to have copped on that the game has changed. We are fed up hearing for the last 12 months what is being demanded of workers as a contribution to national recovery.
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ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
02.10.2009The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has called on workers across the country to mobilise for a national protest on Friday 6th November. The major national protest, to be held just a few weeks before budget day in December, will send a loud message to the government that workers and their families will not bear the brunt of the economic and financial crisis.
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Communities against Cuts protest march to Dail on Wednesday
29.09.2009Members of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions executive are to take part in the national march of community workers, employers and activists in Dublin tomorrow (Wednesday September 30th). The march is in protest against the current, and proposed, cuts to community projects across the country. Several thousand people are expected to participate as the numbers have been growing rapidly with each march.
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Pay claim served for over 34,000 SIPTU members in HSE hospitals and other health institutions
29.09.2009SIPTU has served a pay claim on all state funded hospitals and institutions in the Republic for payment of the outstanding 3.5 per cent under the Transitional Agreement. The increase was due on September 1st but the Government froze public sector pay increases earlier this year. The claim covers 34,000 workers, including paramedics, nurses and manual grades. The union has sanctioned industrial action if the Health Services Executive refuses to engage with the union on implementation of the increase.
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COMMUNITIES AGAINST CUTS PROTEST MARCH TO DAIL ON WEDNESDAY
29.09.2009A national march of community workers, employers and activists will take place in Dublin tomorrow (Wednesday September 30th), in protest against the current, and proposed, cuts to community projects across the country. Several thousand people are expected to participate as the numbers have been growing rapidly with each march.
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SIPTU NEC declares that "enough is enough"
25.09.2009Over the last two days, the National Executive Council has undertaken a detailed review of the economic and industrial situation. It is now clear beyond all doubt that the Government has decided that working people and those who depend most on public services will exclusively shoulder the burden of the mismanagement of the economy exclusively. Meanwhile, those at the top of society, including people who made fortunes selling property to developers during the boom, are to be insulated from the obligation to make a contribution commensurate with their capacity to do so.
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Communities against cuts protest march to Dail
24.09.2009A national march of community workers, employers and activists will take place in Dublin on Wednesday next, September 30th, in protest against the current, and proposed, cuts to community projects across the country.
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Propaganda fanfare for ESRI Public Sector ‘findings’ is totally misleading says SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor
22.09.2009“The fanfare of propaganda being directed against public sector workers, resulting from the release of a supposedly ‘new’ ESRI ‘policy paper’ on public sector pay, is as totally misleading as it is objectionable”, says SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor.
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SIPTU rejects claims by Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association on RTE’s Morning Ireland about pay
22.09.2009SIPTU’s National Industrial Organiser Gerry McCormack has rejected as “completely inaccurate” claims about pay increases made today by Vincent Jennings of the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association on RTE’s Morning Ireland. “Mr Jennings’ suggestion that the Retail and Grocery Trade is to face a 2.5 per cent wage increase from October is completely incorrect. The facts are that the SIPTU and Mandate trade unions have agreed to defer that increase due to workers for 12 months”, Mr. McCormack said.
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SIPTU and Gresham reach agreement and avert dispute at weekend
17.09.2009SIPTU and the management of the Gresham Hotel in Dublin have reached agreement under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission following over 12 hours of talks. Industrial action has been suspended pending acceptance of the terms by SIPTU members. Both parties recognise the difficult environment in which the hotel is operating and are pleased that a satisfactory way forward has been reached.
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Congress to Organise Campaign of ‘Sustained Opposition’ to Inaction on Jobs and Cuts
16.09.2009Congress announced today (Sept. 16) that it will organise a campaign of sustained opposition to Government inaction on jobs, the threat of cuts to public services and to ensure that the burden of economic adjustment is not borne disproportionately by working people and their families.
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NAMA - A MASSIVE GAMBLE FOR THE TAX-PAYER
16.09.2009Responding to the speech made by Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan, on the draft NAMA legislation today, SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor said that the scheme, as proposed, exposes the tax-payer to a massive risk. “The potential exposure of €54b in tax payers money which will be paid for €77b in bank loans (a 30% discount) with no certainty as to any return and no guarantee that it will encourage essential bank lending is an extremely worrying prospect,” he said.
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TUF unions protest outside Leinster House over NAMA bail out for banks while workers’ rights violated
16.09.2009Over 1,500 members of the Trade Union Federation, which links SIPTU and the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union, held a joint protest outside Leinster House today in advance of the debate on the NAMA legislation. They included strikers from Marine Terminals in Dublin Port, who have been on strike since July 3 as well as from Coca Cola and Green Isle Foods, who have been on the picket lines for four and three weeks respectively. The International Transport Workers' Federation was also represented.
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SIPTU TO STUDY COURT JUDGEMENT IN MARINE TERMINALS DISPUTE
15.09.2009SIPTU has said it will study carefully the judgement by the High Court today in a case brought by Marine Terminals Ltd (MTL) against a number of its members and officials. “This is a lengthy judgement which we will study carefully,” said a SIPTU spokesperson. “The company has said it will serve a statement of claim with a view to a full hearing of the court on matters arising from the dispute. We will vigorously defend our members in any court action taken against them by the company,” he said.
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Striking workers from Coca Cola, Green Isle Foods and Dublin Port to join TUF protest outside Leinster House tomorrow
15.09.2009Coca Cola, Green Isle Food and Marine Terminals strikers are to be among the contingents of workers at the Trade Union Federation protest outside Leinster House tomorrow (Wednesday, September 16th) at 1pm. The workers at Coca Cola HBC Ireland have been on strike for four weeks and have been sacked while out on strike. The Green Isle Food workers have been out for three weeks and the Marine Terminals workers have been on strike for ten weeks. In all these cases strike breakers have been brought in to do their work and court injunctions sought to minimise the effect of pickets.
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SIPTU serves notice of industrial action on Gresham Hotel for All-Ireland weekend
15.09.2009SIPTU has served notice of industrial action on the Gresham Hotel in Dublin from midnight on Friday. The form of action, which may begin at any time from Saturday morning onwards, has yet to be decided.
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SIPTU to meet JP Corry Hardware in Tullamore over job losses as it becomes latest casualty of construction downturn
14.09.2009J P Corry Hardware in Tullamore is to close in five to six weeks time because of the impact of the economic on construction. All of the employees are being made redundant with effect from the date of closure.
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TUF unions to hold protest outside Leinster House on Wednesday over NAMA plan to bail out banks on backs of workers
14.09.2009The Trade Union Federation, which links SIPTU and the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union, is organising a joint protest outside Leinster House on Wednesday (September 16) at 1.00pm. The purpose of the protest is to highlight the contrast in Government policy between the NAMA plan to socialise bank debts, while simultaneously allowing PAYE workers to face pay cuts and dismissals in high profile disputes across the State.
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SIPTU welcomes decision of FÁS Board to resign
14.09.2009SIPTU members at FÁS have welcomed the decision by the Board of the agency to step down.
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Element Six workers reject false claims by De Beers boss about blame for delays in talks September
10.09.2009Unions at the Element Six plant in Shannon have described the letter sent yesterday to employees and the statements to the media by the CEO of Element Six de Beers, Cyrus Jilla, complaining that talks on saving the plant were delayed because a SIPTU Organiser was on holidays as “inaccurate, ill informed and out of touch with the situation on the ground”. Pat O’Connor, Chairman of the Shop Stewards Committee, said the meeting arranged at the Labour Court by mutual agreement between the unions and management was for next Thursday, September 17 and the person concerned would be attending.
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SIPTU members in FÁS express anger and dismay at continued waste by small number of senior managers
10.09.2009Members of the SIPTU FÁS Branch are “disappointed and angry that serious failings on the part of a small number of senior management within FÁS again reflect poorly on the State training and employment agency, which provides an essential public service in the current economic crisis”, Branch Organiser Brendan O’Brien said today.
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New Employment Regulation Order for Hotel Industry
08.09.2009An Agreement has been reached between the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), IBEC and SIPTU which will reduce the Sunday Premium Rate from double time to time and one third from the date of the new Employment Regulation Order which is due to be passed into law by the Labour Court in the coming weeks.
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Dublin City Council unanimously passes motion calling on Tanaiste to seek end to Marine Terminals dispute and ensure company engages meaningfully with workers
08.09.2009Dublin City Council unanimously adopted the following emergency motion proposed by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Emer Costello, this evening. It was supported by the Labour Party, Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein, as well as independents.
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Address by ICTU President, Jack O’Connor, to the UNI Europa Post and Logistics Conference, Malahide, September 7, 2009.
07.09.2009Delegates & Friends, I bring with me the warmest greetings and solidarity from the officers and members of the ICTU and our affiliates, to this UNI Europa Post and Logistics Conference in this coastal town of Malahide today, and through you, I want to extend these greetings to all of your members. Your Conference takes place against the background of a dramatic moment in human history - a moment laden with enormous possibility and enormous danger for working people and for civil society. We are living through a period of volcanic proportions in terms of the human history – a moment in which the contradictions inherent in the global economic system have manifested themselves dramatically.
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Letter from SIPTU Vice President, Brendan Hayes, outlining his reasons for not endorsing the final Commission on Taxation report
07.09.2009Letter from Brendan Hayes, Vice President of SIPTU, outlining his reasons for not endorsing the final report. Dear Mr Daly, When I accepted the then Minister for Finance’s invitation to serve on the Commission on Taxation I was aware that the Terms of Reference circumscribed its remit in a manner that would present difficulties for me. Nevertheless I was of the view that it was possible to make substantial progress on developing a fairer, more progressive and economically sustainable system of taxation.
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Protest against cuts in Community Development Projects
04.09.2009Workers and management committees in the country’s Community Development projects are holding a meeting and protest on Tuesday next (September 8) in Liberty Hall in Dublin followed by a march to the Department of Finance.
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Scottish dockers pledge support to Marine Terminals strikers in Dublin
04.09.2009Scotland's biggest union, Unite, has offered its support to dock workers in Dublin caught up in a bitter dispute with their employers, Peel. The support comes amid growing fears that the company is using dock workers from other ports, including ports in Scotland, to break the strike at Peel's dockyard in Dublin.
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SIPTU National Executive Council Statement on the Lisbon Treaty Referendum
03.09.2009The National Executive Council of SIPTU met today to discuss the Lisbon Treaty and the forthcoming referendum.
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Where Will You Be On September 30th?
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Protest at Coca Cola Plant in Lisburn cancelled
03.09.2009A planned protest at the Coca Cola plant at Knockmore near Lisburn tomorrow (Friday, September 4) has been cancelled following the intervention by the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) in the dispute between SIPTU and Coca Cola HBC Ireland over the company’s plans to out source the jobs of 130 warehouse and distribution workers in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Tipperary and Waterford. SIPTU and management representatives will meet separately with the LRC today and tomorrow in an effort to seek a resolution of the week long strike.
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SIPTU welcomes Dublin Aerospace announcement but says more jobs could have been saved from SR Technics debacle
02.09.2009SIPTU Branch Organiser Pat Ward has welcomed the announcement by the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan today that up to 226 jobs could be created by Dublin Aerospace, which is taking over two of the hangars at Dublin Airport previously occupied by SR Technics. He added that he looked forward to meeting with the management of the company and establishing a good working relationship with them.
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SIPTU welcomes small measure of progress in talks on Marine Terminals dispute at LRC
31.08.2009“A very small amount of progress was made today in talks at the Labour Relations Commission with Marine Terminals”, SIPTU Regional Secretary Christy McQuillan said today after over seven hours of talks. The LRC invited both sides to talks in an effort to end the nine week long strike, sparked by the company’s attempt to implement mass redundancies and drastic cuts in pay and conditions unilaterally.
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Aer Lingus results show underlying strength and losses due in large part to poor fuel hedging policy
27.08.2009The operating losses of €93m at Aer Lingus are driven by a 12 per cent fall in revenues over the first six months of 2009, a ten per cent increase in fuel costs and the new departure charge of €10 per passenger, SIPTU National Industrial Secretary Gerry McCormack said today in response to the interim results. “However, on the positive side, the Change Programme SIPTU negotiated with the company last year yielded savings of nine per cent on operating costs, which exceeded targets, passenger numbers are up and the company has €764,956 million in total cash balances.
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Unions agree to Labour Court talks over cutbacks imposed by Meath County Council
27.08.2009SIPTU, the TEEU and UCATT have agreed to refer their dispute with Meath County Council to the Labour Court and to defer any further strike action pending the resolution of outstanding issues.
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SIPTU calls for prosecution of Peel Ports over use of unlicensed private security operators at Marine Terminals
27.08.2009“Peel Ports is using an unlicensed security company to provide protection for its Marine Terminals facility in Dublin Port and should be stopped”, SIPTU Regional Organiser Christy McQuillan said today. “Given the imminence of the implementation of additional regulations governing the private security industry from next Tuesday I think it is now imperative to deal with this abuse of Irish law.
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Element Six unions to attend exploratory meeting at Labour Relations Commission tomorrow
26.08.2009The joint union committee at Element Six has agreed to enter exploratory talks at the Labour Relations Commission tomorrow to secure decent redundancy terms for workers being let go at the Shannon plant and save as many jobs as possible.
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Dublin Port Company refuses to facilitate meeting of SIPTU members to discuss Marine Terminals dispute
26.08.2009The Dublin Port Company, which administers the port on behalf of the state, refused to facilitate a meeting of SIPTU members with union officials today to discuss the dispute at Marine Terminals. The eight week long strike at the south side of the docks was sparked by attempts by the British owned company to introduce mass redundancies, drastically reduce pay and conditions for other workers and introduce strike breakers.
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Carrolls Joinery workers win Tipperary dispute
26.08.2009Following direct negotiations between SIPTU, UCATT and management of Carrolls Joinery an agreement has been concluded to bring the six week strike to an agreed conclusion.
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Joe O’Flynn tells Marine Terminals that its union busting campaign will fail and calls on them to enter serious negotiations
24.08.2009SIPTU General Secretary Joe O’Flynn told the rally outside Marine Terminals today that if a solution was not quickly found to the eight week long dispute it would cause further damage to business in Dublin Port and the wider economy. “Since the UK multinational Peel Ports acquired Marine Terminals last year it has become a byword for bullyboy tactics against decent employees, many of whom have worked in this company for years. Its slogan seems to be ‘You do it my way or no way at all’, he said.
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Marine Terminals protests tomorrow likely to cause disruption to Dublin Port
23.08.2009Supporters of the Marine Terminals strikers in Dublin are to hold protest marches in the docks area of the city tomorrow, starting on both sides of the East Link Bridge at 10.30 am. The marches are being supported by the Dublin Council of Trade Unions and Belfast Council of Trade Unions, as well as the local communities where most of the strikers live, in East Wall and Ringsend.
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Marine Terminals begin issuing P45s to workers as strike at Dublin Port enters eighth week
22.08.2009Marine Terminals has begun posting P45 forms to SIPTU members on strike at the Dublin Port depot. The first P45s arrived in the post yesterday and seven strikers have confirmed receiving them in the post so far, indicating they are no longer employed by the company. SIPTU Branch Organiser Oliver McDonagh has described the move “as another intimidatory exercise designed to break the strike. This makes it all the more essential for other trade unionists in the port and elsewhere to support our struggle. We are appealing to anyone who is free on Monday morning to join our protest.
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SIPTU members to take industrial action at Gweedore Nursing Home in Donegal
21.08.2009Members of SIPTU at the Bainistiocht Aras Gaoth Dobhair Teoranta nursing home in County Donegal are taking industrial action in pursuit of their claim for terms and conditions of employment comparable to similar grades in the HSE. The initial stoppage is for 24 hours on September 1 and the Union says it will do everything possible to avoid discomfort to patients if the action goes ahead.
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Seafarers abandoned in Dundalk have one days food supply left
21.08.2009Eight crew members of the Linda in Dundalk have contacted the International Transport Workers' Federation after being left stranded on board their vessel, the 1,000 ton Linda since July 13. They are owed at least $60,000.
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Marine Terminals trade down by a third as pickets and ITF solidarity action take effect
20.08.2009Despite the best efforts of Marine Terminals Limited and its strike breakers in Dublin Port traffic in and out of the facility have fallen by a third since SIPTU mounted pickets on July 3 in defence of jobs and employment conditions.
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Element Six hardens stance as workers and supporters demonstrate in Shannon
20.08.2009About 400 people took part in a lunchtime protest, despite pouring rain today, at the Element Six plant and marched through the Shannon industrial estate carrying banners and placards calling on the company to cease threatening employees and company pensioners and engage with workers representatives in a reasonable and respectful manner.
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Dublin Council of Trade Unions calls on workers to support Marine Terminals Rally
19.08.2009The Dublin Council of Trade Unions has called on members to support next Monday’s rally in support of Marine Terminals workers in Dublin Port. The dockers, who are members of SIPTU, have been on strike for the past six weeks after the company tried to force through mass compulsory redundancies as well as drastic cuts in pay and working conditions for remaining employees.
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SIPTU says Element Six must allow local management to engage in serious negotiations to resolve dispute
17.08.2009“Element Six should stick to agreements reached and put local management in a position to negotiate, rather than threatening loyal employees”, SIPTU Branch Organiser Mary O’Donnell said today in response to a letter from the company’s Chief Executive Cyrus Jilla to employees. However she also welcomed the agreement of the company to enter third party talks to resolve their differences.
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Strike action by North Tipperary ambulance drivers to start on Thursday
17.08.2009Strike action is due to start on Thursday at 12.01 by crews of the North Tipperary Ambulance Service. Stations affected are Nenagh, Thurles, and Roscrea. The drivers, who are members of SIPTU, will continue to provide an emergency service but will not be carrying out other duties.
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Nearly 2,000 people attend Edgeworthstown rally to support SIPTU members as strike Manor Nursing Home enters thirteenth week
17.08.20092,000 people took part in a protest march and meeting in Edgeworthstown, County Longford, on Saturday afternoon (August 15) held to support SIPTU members on strike at Our Lady’s Manor Nursing Home for the past thirteen weeks. They included local TDs Willie Penrose of Labour and James Bannon of Fine Gael, as well as councilors from across the political spectrum and members of the business community.
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Workers at Element Six vote overwhelmingly for industrial action at Element Six
14.08.2009Members of SIPTU and the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union at Element Six in Shannon voted overwhelmingly today for industrial action in pursuit of a better redundancy package at the factory. Ninety-nine per cent of SIPTU members and 100 per cent of TEEU members backed the strike ballot.
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SIPTU Rejects Minimum Redundancy Terms at 4HOME SUPERSTORES
14.08.2009SIPTU representatives at 4HOME Superstores in county Limerick are to meet with the company’s management on Monday following the decision to close the outlet with effect from tomorrow (Saturday 15th August).
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SIPTU members and supporters to hold support rally for workers at Our Lady’s Manor Nursing Home as strike enters thirteenth week
13.08.2009Striking SIPTU members at Our Lady’s Manor Nursing Home in Edgeworthstown, County Longford are to hold a protest at 1.00 pm on Saturday next (August 15th).
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Element Six workers to ballot for industrial action over failure of company to negotiate meaningfully on redundancy terms
13.08.2009Workers at Element Six in Shannon are to ballot immediately for industrial action following the failure of management to improve on its redundancy package for nearly 400 employees. The result of the ballot should be known tomorrow afternoon.
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ITF, ICTU, SIPTU and Unite to plan co-ordinated campaign to support Dublin strikers and defend conditions for port workers in Britain, Ireland and Europe
12.08.2009The International Transport Workers Federation, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, SIPTU and Unite held a joint meeting in Belfast today to plan a co-ordinated campaign to defend jobs and working conditions in Peel Ports facilities. “The dispute at the Peel Ports owned Marine Terminals facility in Dublin has provided a wake up calls for all of us”, the head of Unite’s Docks and Waterways division Brendan Gold said after today’s meeting.
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Five weeks long dispute at Marine Terminals dispute in Dublin set to spread to other Peel Ports facilities
10.08.2009Unions representing dock workers in Ireland and Britain are due to meet in Belfast on Wednesday to consider a request from SIPTU for solidarity action to be taken in support of workers locked in a five week long dispute at Marine Terminals in Ringsend, Dublin. The dispute erupted after the new owners of the facility, Peel Ports, embarked on a campaign to replace the existing workforce with lower paid, non-unionised employees.
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SIPTU and TEEU to ballot members at Element Six for industrial action while pursuing negotiations aimed at saving plant
10.08.2009SIPTU and the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union at Element Six in Shannon have decided to ballot members for industrial action over the next few days to protect their jobs and secure better redundancy terms for any workers being let go. Meanwhile both unions have said they will continue to explore all avenues to resolve the current dispute prior to taking industrial action.
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SIPTU says latest earnings figures show wage cuts not widespread and Government is aggravating recession with the economics of fear
07.08.2009SIPTU says latest earnings figures nail the lie that pay rates are being cut across the economy and Government must stop fuelling the economics of fear. This will only depress consumer confidence further and lengthen dole queues.
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Support Grows for Workers at Carrolls Joinery
05.08.2009Fianna Fáil Tipperary South TD, Mattie McGrath, has called on Carrolls Joinery to honour a Labour Court recommendation at the heart of the ongoing dispute between workers and management at the Ballingarry factory. “I fully support the workers in this dispute. The management at Carroll’s should abide by the Labour Court recommendation. These men have given loyal service over many decades and the least they deserve is a decent severance payment,” McGrath said.
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SIPTU hospital organiser expresses concern at Tallaght hospital management approach to swine ‘flu threat
04.08.2009SIPTU’s Dublin Health Services Branch Organiser Paul Bell has expressed concern at the leaking of a swine ‘flu memo to the media before staff members have been consulted about management proposals at Tallaght hospital. “We are anxious to do our utmost to help contain any outbreak of ‘flu at Tallaght or any other hospital”, Mr Bell said, “but the leaking of a memo to the media will only alarm staff unnecessarily and it is hard to understand why this has been done.
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SIPTU condemns attack on members at St James’s Hospital and calls on public to assist Garda investigation
04.08.2009SIPTU Security Sector Organiser Kevin McMahon has condemned the shooting of two union members by gunmen in the grounds of St James’s hospital, Dublin, early this morning. “SIPTU deplores the shooting of our members and we would urge the public to assist the Garda in every way with their investigation”, Mr. McMahon said.
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SIPTU General President calls for social provisions to be included in primary NAMA legislation
31.07.2009The General President of SIPTU, Jack O’Connor, has called for the primary NAMA legislation to include social provisions to provide for housing, schools, health centres, sports and other community facilities. He pledged that SIPTU will campaign for such provisions in the Bill to ensure there is a social dividend from the huge risk being undertaken by the taxpayer.
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NAMA Bill socialises recklessly accumulated bank debts
30.07.2009“The NAMA Bill has left us little wiser as to the true cost of this deeply flawed and potentially very expensive project”, SIPTU General President Jack O’ Connor said this evening in response to the draft legislation. “The only certainty is that the legislation is designed to socialise the debts recklessly accumulated by those at the top of our banking system acting in conjunction with profit crazed developers. This is deeply ironic given that struggling mortgage holders have only a weak and voluntary code of conduct to protect them from the Banks and stave off repossession of their homes for a limited period of time.
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Transfer of Undertakings dispute could cause disruption at Dublin Airport
30.07.2009The prospect of a serious dispute affecting ground handling operations at Dublin Airport has arisen after Sky Handling Partners refused to give commitments required under Transfer of Undertakings procedures to workers’ representatives that it would honour existing terms of employment.
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SIPTU condemns undue emphasis on pay and welfare cuts by business interests in Mid-West Task Force report
29.07.2009‘While the Interim Report of the Mid-West Task Force contains many useful proposals in areas such as education, retraining and exploiting the region’s natural resources to combat unemployment it is a pity that there is such an emphasis on cutting pay and social welfare rates”, SIPTU Branch Organiser Karan O’Loughlin said today.
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Historic Victory for SIPTU cleaners in Custom House battle
29.07.2009Ten members of SIPTU are employed as contract cleaners at the Custom House in Dublin have won a month long battle to retain their jobs and incomes. SIPTU’s Dublin Regional Secretary Patricia King said it was a welcome victory “for a courageous group of women and their supporters” that sent out a clear message to employers trying to drive down pay and conditions they would not succeed.
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Dublin Port workers march in support of SIPTU members
28.07.2009A march held by the Dublin Port Workers Group in support of SIPTU members who are in dispute with UK company Peel Ports at the Marine Terminal in Dublin Port on Tuesday 28, July. Over 300 people from the communities of East Wall, Irishtown and Ringsend from both sides of the river Liffey joined together to hold a protest at the Marine Terminal where forty-two SIPTU members have been picketing for over a month over the company’s refusal to negotiate with the union and to enforce pay cuts and redundancies. The marchers disrupted traffic to and from the port in the first of a series of planned actions by the Port Workers Support Group. Community activist, Joe Mooney from East Wall, who helped to organise the protest, said; “We are witnessing a UK-based company abusing its workforce on a site owned by an Irish State company. We are calling on the Dublin Port Company to intervene and to tackle the appalling behaviour being carried out by its tenant.”
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Workers at Carroll’s Joinery to mount pickets on company’s other plants countrywide
28.07.2009The dispute over redundancy payments at Carroll’s Joinery at Ballingarry, Co Kilkenny, is set to escalate as it enters its second week. Workers plan mass pickets on the company’s head office and other plants to coincide with the end of builder’s holidays next Tuesday.
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SIPTU leader calls on Government to withdraw guarantee from banks that raise interest rates on home mortgages
24.07.2009SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor is to write to the Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan, calling on him to withdraw the Government’s guarantee from banks which plan to raise interest rates to mortgage holders. Mr. O’Connor was reacting to news this morning that Irish Life and Permanent is adding a half per cent to home owners with variable rate mortgages and to reports that other lenders may follow their example.
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SIPTU leader says Taoiseach should call election if he wants to pursue ‘slash and burn’ policies of ‘hawks’ in Department of Finance
22.07.2009SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor said today that, “The Government has no mandate for the slash and burn policies it is pursuing and if the Taoiseach cannot rein in those elements in the Department of Finance who appear determined to wreck the economy, and the country, then he should call it a day and call a general election.
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SIPTU condemns tight fisted offer from Element Six on redundancy terms for workers
22.07.2009SIPTU Organiser Mary O’Donnell has condemned the offer by Element Six of one week’s pay per year of service on top of statutory entitlements to the 370 staff being made redundant. On previous occasions the company has given six weeks pay, inclusive of statutory entitlements of two weeks.
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SIPTU workers to picket headquarters of Carroll’s building supplies group tomorrow in battle for Labour Court redundancy award
21.07.2009Workers at Carroll Systems Limited in Ballintaggart, near Callen, Co Kilkenny, are extending their picket to the parent company’s headquarters at Unit 50 Parkwest Road, Parkwest Industrial Park, Dublin 12, tomorrow (July 22nd) to highlight their long running battle for redundancy payments. The Carroll’s Group has 14 subsidiary companies supplying the construction sector. The Ballintaggart plant specialises in doors and other joinery products.
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An Bord Snip Nua’s cutbacks of €5.3 billion are ‘an exercise in fantasy’ that will inflict pain on most people warns SIPTU leader
16.07.2009“The recommendations of An Bord Snip Nua represent an exercise in fantasy”, SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor said today in response to the publication of the Bord Snip Nua report. “In fairness to the Group their terms of reference focused exclusively on reducing expenditure without regard to the economic and social implications, or the viability of alternative approaches. “This is graphically highlighted in that the Government’s own projections envisage reductions of €1.5 billion in current expenditure for 2010 and the same again in 2011, whereas this report recommends an incredible €5.3 billion. The Government’s targets are not achievable without the most severe measures. The recommendations of this report are entirely unworkable, unnecessary and downright counter-productive.
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Jack O’Connor condemns ESRI and An Snip Nua for clinging to failed policies
16.07.2009Today’s statement by the Economic and Social Research Institute advocating further pay cuts in the public service coincides remarkably with the publication with the report of An Bord Snip Nua, ICTU and SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor said this morning. “This is far too much of a coincidence to be accidental”, he said. “Regrettably the ESRI has unanimously become nothing more than an intellectual mouth piece for the policies of the establishment. This is the institution which either failed to foresee the collapse of the credit led property boom or saw it and stayed mute about it, like all the other instruments of the establishment, such as the financial regulatory bodies.
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Mass picket of Custom House in support of women cleaners after contractors refuse to honour job commitments
16.07.2009SIPTU has mounted a mass picket on the Custom House in Dublin this morning from 7am to 9am in protest at the continued refusal of the company which secured the new cleaning contract for the building, headquarters of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, to honour commitments to existing staff. The ten SIPTU cleaners who have lost of their jobs as a result are hard working women ranging in age from their early forties to early sixties and in some cases are the main breadwinners for their families. They have been on the picket lines for almost two weeks.
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SIPTU members at the Dublin Airport Authority outline priorities in Cost Recovery Programme negotiations
12.07.2009SIPTU’s Civil Aviation Branch has called on the Dublin Airport Authority to give commitments that any Cost Recovery Programme will be implemented fairly across the organisation. It also called for the disbanding of the Cork and Shannon boards to avoid ‘triplication’ of administrative costs and proposed that, while Terminal 2 should be completed in Dublin , it should not open until passenger growth makes it viable.
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Address by incoming President Jack O'Connor to ICTU Conference
10.07.2009I wish to express the deep appreciation of my union for the honour of my election to the office of the President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. I know the affiliated unions, in supporting me for this position, were conscious of the fact that this is the centenary year of SIPTU making the honour even more significant. In this regard, I want to acknowledge that this is also the centenary year of another affiliated union, the ASTI, and I want to congratulate them for what they have achieved for their profession over the past 100 years.
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New ICTU President calls for ‘intelligent’ battle by workers and their families to resist onslaught on living standards
10.07.2009“I am acutely aware of the level of disillusionment among trade union members and working people generally at our response to the assault on their standard of living and quality of life as it has unfolded to date”, the incoming President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Jack O’Connor of SIPTU, said today in his inaugural address to the ICTU Biennial Conference. “I have to say, quite frankly, that it would have been better if we had gone ahead with the day of action on March 30 as a united movement but it wasn’t going to happen as a united movement.
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Responding to the Economic and Social Crisis
09.07.2009Clearly the Government and employers have concluded that there is only one response to the economic crisis. This involves ‘restoring competitiveness’. This in turn means correcting the imbalance in the public finances, saving the banking system (but avoiding nationalisation at all costs) and reducing costs in the economy so that goods and services can compete more effectively on the world market. Normally countries would do this by devaluing their currency but since we are in the Euro (thankfully) that option is not open so they are trying to do it by driving down wages and conditions of employment. Historically the slashing of labour costs and mass unemployment are the preferred solution of the political right in a severe economic crisis. The result, as we are witnessing today, is a determined and sustained campaign to roll back decades of gains achieved by workers acting through their unions.
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Marine Terminal workers to seek all-out picket on Dublin Port as strike enters second week
09.07.2009SIPTU members at Marine Terminals Limited are to seek an all-out picket from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions for Dublin Port as their strike enters its second week tomorrow. “We have made repeated efforts to engage with the employers, as have the Labour Relations Commission, since the strike began”, SIPTU Branch Organiser Oliver McDonagh said, “but every approach has been rebuffed. Instead the company has insisted on communicating with us only through their legal team and the courts.
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SIPTU welcomes unanimous decision of Irish Congress of Trade Unions to support electricians application for all-out picket
07.07.2009SIPTU’s National Construction Sector Organiser Eric Fleming has said that his Union will complete its ballot on the electricians request for an all-out ballot by the end of next week. “As by far the largest Union in construction our involvement in the dispute will see a serious escalation”, he said.
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UNION DEALS FOR UNION MEMBERS
08.07.2009SIPTU organised hotels are offering great deals to SIPTU members. Each of the hotels listed in this directory employs SIPTU members. By giving these hotels your business you are supporting union jobs and getting good value for your money. In order to avail of these special offers please quote "Union Hotel Deals for Union Members" when making your reservation. Please note that you may also be required to provide proof of trade union membership upon "check-in" at your chosen hotel.
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Jack O’Connor tells ICTU Conference that working people need a coherent alternative to the failed model Government is clinging to
07.07.2009Hundred of thousands of workers on this island are daily suffering the consequences of the failed neo-liberal model of economic development, of the unbridled free market and self regulation, imposed almost thirty ago with the advent of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor told the Irish Congress of Trade Unions today.
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SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor welcomes Gilmore’s commitments to ensure workers' rights to collective bargaining if Labour is in next Government
07.07.2009Jack O’Connor, General President of SIPTU and incoming President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, has welcomed the commitment of Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore at the ICTU conference in Tralee this morning that he will ensure workers' rights to collective bargaining are enshrined in law if he is elected to Government.
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SIPTU responds to grossly misleading Marine Terminals statements about redundancies and contests injunction against pickets
05.07.2009SIPTU Group Organiser Oliver McDonagh has accused Peel Ports of grossly exaggerating the amounts they are offering in redundancy payments to workers they want to get rid of at their Marine Terminals depot in Dublin as a tactic to distract attention from the key issues, which are saving jobs and respecting the right of workers to be represented by their trade unions.
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SIPTU support for electricians in tomorrow’s national strike
05.07.2009SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor has pledged his support to the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union in its dispute with the electrical contractors. The TEEU has served notice of strike action by its 10,500 members in the sector starting tomorrow morning. Mr. O’Connor has said that if the TEEU applies for an all-out picket from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions SIPTU will ballot members with a strong recommendation to support the electricians.
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Little progress on cost cutting plan at Bus Eireann talks
03.07.2009Talks between Bus Eireann and its unions on the company’s €30 million cost cutting plan made little progress today, SIPTU Sector Organiser Andrew McCarthy said after talks adjourned. “We are to meet again on July 13 when it is hoped more progress can be made on the substantive issues now that the problems over probationary drivers have been resolved.”
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SIPTU pickets placed on Marine Terminals
03.07.2009SIPTU members at Marine Terminals Limited place pickets at the company’s premises in Dublin port this morning before 6.00am. The dispute is over attempts by the company to impose compulsory redundancies and cuts in the pay and conditions on the workforce. Last week the Labour Court issued an opinion in favour of the Union under the Protection of Employment Act, 2007, over an attempt by the company to make most of the workforce redundant.
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SIPTU gives cautious welcome to news of additional nursing staff at Central Mental Hospital
02.07.2009SIPTU’s National Nursing Official Louise O’Reilly has welcomed the news today that additional nursing staff members are to be appointed to fill vacancies in the Central Mental Hospital. Ms. O’Reilly said, “It is regrettable that the vacancy levels in the CMH were allowed to get as high as 25 and we hope that this never happens again in this unique forensic facility”.
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Unions secure commitment on employment in the health service
02.07.2009Trade union leaders in the health service today received assurances that: * there would be no compulsory redundancies for permanent employees and * temporary employees, with more than twelve months' service, will not have their contract terminated, in this latest reconfiguration of services; according to Matt Merrigan (SIPTU) and David Hughes (INO).
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SIPTU cleaners to picket Custom House from Wednesday over refusal of contractors to honour job commitments
01.07.2009SIPTU cleaners mounted pickets on the Custom House in Dublin today after the company which secured the new cleaning contract for the building, headquarters of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, refused to honour commitments to existing staff. "Initially the new contractors, Schorman Cleaning Services, had indicated it would be honouring the Transfer of Undertakings (TUPE) regulations, which would ensure continuity of employment for the workers", SIPTU Branch Organiser Karen Smollen, said.
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Smurfit Kappa - further meeting on Cork plant's future tomorrow
01.07.2009SIPTU will be seeking to maintain as many jobs as possible when representatives meet with management at the Smurfit Kappa plant in Cork tomorrow, Organiser Paul Depuis said after today's meeting. "The fact that the facility is to remain open offers an opportunity that jobs can be created when conditions improve.
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SIPTU economist warns those calling for yet more wage cuts in light of rising unemployment to be careful what they wish
01.07.2009SIPTU’s Chief Economist and Head of Research Manus O’Riordan has warned those calling for more wage cuts in the light of today’s rising unemployment figures that this will only drive the economy into deeper recession. Mr O'Riordan said that lobby groups and commentators who use the continuing unemployment crisis to repeat their now ritual calls for wage rates to be slashed were persisting in the pursuit of bankrupt policies. “They should be more careful what they wish for.
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Bus Eireann agrees to make 46 probationary drivers permanent and clears way for substantive talks on cost cutting plans
30.06.2009Bus Eireann has agreed to regularise the position of 46 drivers who have successfully completed their probationary period. The drivers will be made permanent from tomorrow.
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SIPTU serves strike notice on Marine Terminals in Dublin Port for next Friday
30.06.2009SIPTU has served strike notice on Marine Terminals for Friday, July 3. The company handles at least 25 per cent of the traffic in Dublin Port. The dispute is over an attempt by the company to impose compulsory redundancies and cuts in pay and conditions on the workforce. Last week the Labour Court issued an opinion in favour of the union under the Protection of Employment Act, 2007, over an attempt by the company to make most of the workforce redundant.
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SIPTU warns more job losses likely in meat processing industry as a result of Government policy
30.06.2009SIPTU Branch Organiser Miriam Hamilton said after talks with management at Meadow Meats in Rathdowney this morning that there was no chance of preserving the 100 jobs in the boning hall. She also warned that these job losses could be followed by hundreds more across the meat processing industry as the Government funded a strategy of restructuring for big producers.
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SIPTU to meet Meadow Meats tomorrow as 100 job losses pose ‘huge blow’ to Rathdowney community in County Laois
29.06.2009“The loss of 100 jobs at Meadow Meats in Rathdowney will be a huge blow to the community as well as to the workforce because there is literally no alternative employment in the village”, SIPTU Branch Organiser Miriam Hamilton said today. She was responding to news that the company is shedding two thirds of the 150 jobs in Rathdowney, County Laois, with the closure of the boning hall facility. The plant is part of the Dawn Group.
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SIPTU writes to Minister over implementation of revolving door policy at Central Mental Hospital
26.06.2009SIPTU National Nursing Official Louise O’Reilly has written to John Moloney, Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, seeking an urgent meeting over the continuing accommodation crisis at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum, Dublin. She said that the Department is now operating a revolving door policy to try and mask what is in effect a closed door system at the state’s only forensic facility.
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SIPTU welcomes LRC intervention in Bus Eireann dispute but warns company it will continue ballot for industrial action
25.06.2009SIPTU Sector Organiser Andrew McCarthy has welcomed the intervention of the Labour Relations Commission in the Bus Eireann dispute. “We also welcome the decision of the company to defer implementation of the Cost Recovery Plan next Monday, at the request of the LRC, so that talks can take place on Tuesday, June 30. This is a triumph for common sense”, he said.
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SIPTU to meet ABB Transformers management over threatened loss of 178 jobs
25.06.2009SIPTU Organiser Ger Malone is to meet management at ABB Transformers over the threatened loss of up to 178 jobs at the company’s plant in Waterford tomorrow at 9.30am. This followed an initial meeting this morning at plant, which has been in the city since 1953. The company said it wished to begin redundancy negotiations.
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National Talks
24.06.2009The Executive Council of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions met today to consider the latest proposals from the Government. The following motion was adopted unanimously: “The Executive Council has considered the measures announced by the Government at last evening’s Talks and the proposals which have emerged on private sector pay. The Executive has concluded that, as presented, they fall short in terms of scale, scope and application, but with improvement could form the basis for agreement. Accordingly, Congress calls for further engagement to this end. Meanwhile unions organising in profitable organisations should press ahead with the processing of claims under the Transitional Agreement and calls on employers in such companies to engage with a view to reaching agreement.”
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SIPTU to engage immediately with Cadburys on jobs threat
24.06.2009Responding to Cadbury’s announcement today that it is proposing to cut 200 jobs at its plants in Coolock, Dublin and Rathmore in County Kerry, SIPTU Organiser Peadar Nolan said, “Local union representatives will consider in detail the announcement and proposals being put forward by the company. We will not be commenting any further at this point, but needless to say our priority will be the retention of jobs.”
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Full-time Firefighters National Committee are campaigning against new National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management
23.06.2009Firefighters may be balloted for industrial action because chiefs failed to consult union leaders on a new industry committee.
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SIPTU warns Bus Eireann management it must abide by agreements if it is to avoid strike
23.06.2009SIPTU Sector Organiser Andrew McCarthy has written to Bus Eireann’s human resources manager Des Tallon warning him that the union will ballot members for industrial action next week if the company continues to ignore agreements. He has also warned the company that it will be acting illegally if it attempts to cut drivers’ pay without agreement.
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DHL staff vote by over 90 per cent to accept proposals
22.06.2009SIPTU members at DHL have voted by 93 per cent in favour of the redundancy terms negotiated by Branch Organiser Pat Ward. The package involves six weeks' pay per year of service and some additional regular allowances have been incorporated in the calculations. The package is inclusive of statutory entitlements.
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Bord na Mona workers to meet again on Thursday to consider proposals to resolve dispute over cost cutting plan
22.06.2009Bord na Mona workers are to meet in Tullamore next Thursday to consider proposals to resolve their dispute over changes in work practices and conditions of employment. This follows a general meeting early this morning at Derrygreenagh, which was attended by over 300 workers.
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Thousands of security and cleaning workers demand justice from banks
15.06.2009On International Justice Day, June 15, thousands of security and cleaning workers around the world will call on Allied Irish Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank and others to sign a responsible contractor policy ensuring basic rights for security guards and cleaners.
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Cutting US Flights - The result of the "madness" of Aer Lingus privatisation
12.06.2009The decision of Aer Lingus to cut flights from Shannon Airport to Chicago and from Dublin to Washington and San Francisco, this winter, will have very serious consequences for customers, the West of Ireland and our National strategic economic interests in general. It may well be a temporary ploy for management to say that direct flights from Shannon to New York are under “close review”. It goes without saying that all of this will have a direct and indirect affect on staff and their families, already hard-pressed by the consequences of the mismanagement of the economy by successive governments.
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SIPTU General Officers and the SIPTU Solidarity with Cuba Forum have joined with Cuba's ambassador to Ireland in a wreathlaying ceremony at the grave of James J. O'Kelly [1843-1916], Fenian leader and Home Rule MP, who brought the story of Cuba's first War of Independence to the attention of the Englsh-speaking world.
12.06.2009It was William O'Brien, following his retirement as ITGWU General Secretary in 1946, who commenced the work of preparing for publication half a million words of the correspondence of the Fenian leader of Irish America, John Devoy. The resulting two volumes included letters of immense historical importance from the latter’s friend and fellow Fenian leader, James J. O’Kelly, ranging over such issues as O’Kelly’s initiative in forging the “New Departure” alliance with Parnell and his further call for solidarity with the South African Zulus in their war against British occupation. But if the name of James J. O’Kelly nonetheless continues to remain virtually unknown in his native Ireland, it is otherwise in Cuba. In that other island nation at the far side of the Atlantic O'Kelly is acclaimed as a national hero, and the Spanish translation of his 1874 book on that country’s first War of Independence against Spanish occupation, the Ten Years War of 1868-78, has been republished in several Cuban editions.
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DHL proposals go to ballot next week
12.06.2009SIPTU members at DHL are to be balloted on redundancy terms next week. Details of the package will be given after members are informed. However the deal does provide for a Service Partner Model which will allow a number of workers being made redundant at the depots in Athlone, Cavan, Enniscorthy, Galway, Sligo, Tralee and Waterford to continue working on a self-employed basis with DHL.
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Talks avert potential job losses at LTAI
11.06.2009Over ten hours of talks today averted a renewed threat of closure and the loss of up to 465 jobs at the Lufthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland plant in Rathcoole. After the meeting Technical Engineering and Electrical Union General Secretary Designate Eamon Devoy said, “A number of clarifications was put forward by the National Implementation Body to the original agreement on issues such as the ‘plus and minus hours’ clauses.
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SIPTU members threaten industrial action on Cape Clear ferry
10.06.2009SIPTU has served strike notice for another official one day strike on the Cape Clear Ferry, Naomh Ciaran II, for June 18. The action will take place from 9.00am to 7.00pm.
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SIPTU says IBEC’s attack on the ERO system will protect profits by undermining minimum levels of pay and conditions for low paid
10.06.2009SIPTU, the country’s largest trade union, has taken issue with IBEC’s assault on the Employment Rights Order system. The Union’s General President, Jack O’Connor, declared today “that the main employers’ organisation should be able to offer a better response to the economic and social crisis than attacking the lowest paid and the most vulnerable workers in the country.
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SIPTU Taxi Branch warns that protests could resume if no satisfactory response from Government this week
08.06.2009Contrary to some media reports SIPTU gave no pledge on behalf of Taxi Drivers it represents to end its protest campaign at a meeting with senior officials of the Department of Transport last Thursday, SIPTU Branch Organiser Jerry Brennan said today. “On the contrary, they promised to come back to us within one week with a definitive response from the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsaey, on our concerns and whether or not the campaign resumes will depend on the nature of that response.”
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SIPTU members threaten industrial action on Cape Clear ferry
04.06.2009The official one day strike by SIPTU members on the Cape Clear Ferry, Naomh Ciaran II, went ahead today and was supported by around 60 local people, many of whom travelled over from the island to participate in the protest at the quayside in Baltimore. The dispute is over a unilateral decision by the Ferry’s owner, Ciaran O’Driscoll, to lay off the Master, reducing pay by between 22 per cent and 27 per cent and make the crew work four weeks unpaid this summer.
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SIPTU says big question marks hang over Government claim that 250 jobs can be saved at SR Technics
04.06.2009SIPTU has been informed by the IDA that the status of the proposed sale of SR Technics Irish operation to Dublin Aerospace is by no means certain. “The bid has been described to us as a credible expression of interest, rather than a done deal by the IDA”, SIPTU Branch Organiser Pat Ward said this afternoon. “This is a far cry from the gloss that the Minister and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment have been putting on it.
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Central Mental Hospital to cease accepting new admissions because of HSE recruitment moratorium
04.06.2009The Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum, Dublin, is to cease admitting new patients from June 15 because of staffing shortages. SIPTU, which represents the majority of staff at the institution, was informed of the decision by letter today.
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SIPTU says over 700 more jobs could have been saved at SR Technics if Government had been willing to act
04.06.2009SIPTU Branch Organiser Pat Ward has welcomed the news that up to 250 jobs may be saved at SR Technics as the result of the takeover by Dublin Aerospace Limited, but pointed out that for a Government investment of an additional €4 million a further 700 jobs could have been salvaged. “The Government’s policy in handling the SR Technics crisis has secured the minimum possible number of jobs and Ministers should refrain from clapping themselves on the back over the outcome”, he said.
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SIPTU members threaten industrial action on Cape Clear ferry
03.06.2009The one day strike by SIPTU members is to go ahead tomorrow on the Cape Clear Ferry, Naomh Ciaran II. The situation has deteriorated with the employer escalating the dispute by laying off the ship’s master.
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SIPTU expresses sympathy to families of members missing on Air France flight
03.06.2009Two of the people missing on the Air France flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris earlier today were SIPTU members.
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Moratorium on recruitment threatens future of cancer treatment at St. Luke’s Hospital
02.06.2009“The recently imposed recruitment moratorium in the health services threatens the future of cancer services at St Luke’s Hospital, Rathgar”, Kevin Figgis, SIPTU Branch Organiser has warned.
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SIPTU leader condemns proposal by new President of Cork business lobby to cut social welfare and minimum wage rates
29.05.2009General Secretary Joe O’Flynn has condemned calls by the new president of Cork Chamber to cut social welfare rates and the national minimum wag. He was responding to comments attributed to Ger O’Mahoney of Cork Chamber in today’s Evening Echo.
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Strike action begins at Our Lady’s Manor Nursing Home, Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford
28.05.2009SIPTU members working in Our Lady’s Manor, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, began strike action this morning, May 28, 2009, with the withdrawal of labour and the placing of pickets at the Manor.
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Taxi drivers’ organisations form Joint Taxi Council as they begin new phase of campaign with stoppage on June 4th
27.05.2009The four organisations representing taxi drivers have decided to form a Joint Taxi Council to give the industry one united voice. The decision was taken at a joint meeting of SIPTU (Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union), the ITDF (the Irish Taxi Drivers' Federation), the NPH&TA (the National Private Hire and Taxi Association) and the NTDU (the National Taxi Drivers' Union) on May 21.
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SIPTU leader says Aer Lingus privatisation ‘a tragic mistake’ and the union stands firmly with people of Limerick in their struggle to defeat criminal gangs at Centenary Ceremony
26.05.2009The decision to privatise Aer Lingus was “a tragic mistake” SIPTU General Secretary Joe O’Flynn told Limerick City Council today. He also said the union fully supported the local community in its stand against criminal elements in the city. He was speaking at special reception to mark the Union’s Centenary.
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NEW NATIONAL PAY TALKS TO FOLLOW GOVERNMENT COMMITMENTS
26.05.2009Dear Member Meeting with the Taoiseach: We advised by circular letter of May 15, of a meeting with the Taoiseach on Thursday, May 14. This had been followed by discussions on three key specific issues, viz: the jobs crisis, the threat of home repossessions and private sector pensions. The Taoiseach clarified the Government’s position on these issues by letter of Wednesday, May 20.
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SIPTU members threaten industrial action on Cape Clear ferry
26.05.2009SIPTU has served notice of a one day strike on June 4th on the Cape Clear Ferry, Naomh Ciaran II, in protest at pay cuts ranging from 22 per cent for deckhands to 27 per cent for the ship’s master. The stoppage will last from 8.30am until 7.00pm.
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Strike notice served on Our Lady’s Manor Nursing Home, Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford, over massive pay cuts
25.05.2009SIPTU has served strike notice on Our Lady’s Manor Nursing Home, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, to take effect from Thursday, May 28, 2009, over drastic cutbacks in pay rates and working hours. These will massive cuts in weekly earnings for over 50 staff members who work there.“The dispute is over the unilateral action of the new owners, John Noel McGivney and Sarah Ann McGivney, in breaching agreements on the terms and conditions of employment of our members working in the Manor”, SIPTU Assistant Branch Organiser Niall Phillips said today. “Since the new owners took over on the February 27, 2009, they have withdrawn, without agreement, our members:
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SIPTU says Marine Terminals redundancy figures for dockers exaggerated
20.05.2009Figures given by Marine Terminals about the redundancy package on offer to employees at Dublin Port are inaccurate and far less generous than suggested, SIPTU-MPGWU Organiser Oliver McDonagh said today. He was responding to a company statement issued earlier today.
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SIPTU gravely concerned over 200 job cuts at ACC Bank
20.05.2009SIPTU has expressed grave concern over the ACC Bank’s announcement today that it proposes cutting 200 jobs and closing a significant number of offices around the country.
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SIPTU refers major dispute in Dublin Port to Government to try and avert widespread disruption to economy
20.05.2009SIPTU has referred an attempt by a major employer in Dublin Port to force through the collective dismissal of its dockers to the Government under the Protection of Employment Act, 2007. The referral concerns Marine Terminals, which accounts for at least 25 per cent of port traffic.
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Oration at James Connolly Commemoration
17.05.2009We are assembled here to honour the memory of James Connolly, one of the leading founders of our trade union who went on, along with Jim Larkin, to found the Labour Party as well. Connolly dedicated his life to organising workers to stand solidly together against the brutality of a system that prioritises the relentless pursuit of profit over every human and social consideration. Having selflessly spent his life in the service of working people, enduring the most extreme deprivation throughout, he went on to surrender it in pursuit of our national interest. He clearly understood that liberation from the tyranny of colonial occupation and winning the independence of Ireland were central to the emancipation of working people as well.
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A vote for Labour and other parties of the Left is only guarantee that workers interests will be protected says SIPTU leader
17.05.2009SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor has described Fianna Fail and Fine Gael as “two sides of the same coin in respect of all the great issues affecting working people”. Addressing the annual Connolly Commemoration at Arbour Hill today, he said, “Voting for one, as an alternative to the other, amounts to nothing more than the political equivalent of leaping from the frying pan into the fire”. It offered “more of the same by a different name”.
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SIPTU accuses Government and State Agencies of paralysis and lack of any strategy for saving aviation sector jobs
14.05.2009SIPTU Branch Organiser Pat Ward has accused the Government of “paralysis and lack of political will when it comes to saving jobs in the aviation sector. Their only priorities seem to be balancing the public finances and bailing out the banks. Meanwhile the jobs of highly skilled workers are being abandoned.”
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SIPTU proposes significant cost savings at DHL and ICTU economist to examine company books as talks on prospective job losses continue
13.05.2009ICTU economist Paul Sweeney is to examine the books of DHL tomorrow as part of the consultation and negotiating process at the company over plans to shed 320 jobs and close its seven regional depots in the Republic. This followed over four hours of talks between the company and SIPTU, which represents the 650 strong work force.
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SIPTU concerned that media reports of Tesco plans to outsource functions and displace Irish suppliers could cost hundreds more jobs
13.05.2009SIPTU National Industrial Secretary Gerry McCormack has expressed grave concern at media reports that Tesco may cut 140 jobs at its head office and transfer functions to Britain or other overseas locations. “Reports that Tesco plans to boost profits by transferring jobs overseas and sourcing products abroad is already threatening the viability of many of its Irish suppliers”, he said.“Already we are aware of two Irish suppliers experiencing difficulties as a result of this new strategy and we know of many more Irish companies who will face similar difficulties if this new policy is pursued. We are concerned that if Tesco rolls out this strategy on a nation wide basis it would have a devastating effect on jobs in companies that supply Tesco.
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SIPTU calls on Environment Minister to intervene in Bray Recycling Centre dispute that affects all of North Wicklow
13.05.2009SIPTU has begun official industrial action at the Bray Recycling Centre today following the refusal of Wicklow County Council to renew contracts for the five staff members employed there. They have all worked at the centre since it opened three years ago. The Bray Centre provides a recycling facility for the whole of North Wicklow.
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Status of National Pay Talks
13.05.2009On Sunday, April 19, we publicly declared that we would not see the National Pay Talks continuing after May 1, unless it was clear that key issues could be addressed by then. The Talks concluded on Thursday, 30th April. It was agreed that the Chairperson of the process, the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach, would report to the Cabinet on the outcome. It is expected the Government will outline their position over the next few days. The Executive Council of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions is scheduled to meet on Wednesday next, May 20. We expect a decision to be made then, one way or the other.
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DHL agrees to enter cost evaluation process with SIPTU to save jobs
11.05.2009DHL has promised to provide more detailed information on its proposed cutbacks in the Republic to SIPTU, following a three hour meeting today. It has also agreed to enter a process with the Union to look at cost saving measures on a depot by depot basis that might avert some closures and reduce redundancies.
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Another blow to North Dublin and across the country as DHL Express announce job losses
07.05.2009A total of 320 people will lose their jobs throughout the DHL Express Network across the country, including a number at the recently opened hub located in North Dublin adjacent to Dublin Airport.
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Outlook that caused economic crisis still inhibiting solution
30.04.2009Address by Jack O’Connor on prospects for a national agreement made at a seminar organised by the Galway Council of Trade Unions on the theme of the role of trade unions in addressing Ireland’s economic crisis at the Western Hotel, Galway, Thursday, April 30, 2009.
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SIPTU delegation to Brussels calls on European Commission to end Irish Government’s ‘light touch’ regulation of occupational pensions
29.04.2009A SIPTU delegation to Brussels met with the EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Vladimir Spidla, today to raise their concerns about the SR Technics pension fund and ask the Commission to investigate the inadequate protection provided for workers generally. They also met with senior Commission staff dealing with pensions and the Insolvency Directive. They were told that the Commission would be raising the issues with the Irish Government shortly.
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SIPTU economist says ESRI report and Live Register figures show the Government is offering too little, almost too late
29.04.2009Today’s publication of the ESRI Quarterly Economic Commentary brings little surprise with the numbers predicted to be unemployed by year end set to reach over 292,000l. SIPTU Economist Marie Sherlock said, “These forecasts show up the Government’s numbers announced in the Supplementary Budget as being optimistic. The figures for the Live Register figures today do nothing to dispell fears that the numbers signing on will march past the 500,000 mark before year end.
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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.
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SIPTU challenges ‘Fast Buck’ Food outlets to drop legal challenge to decent pay rates in catering sector
29.04.2009SIPTU and the major catering employers represented by IBEC, and by the Vintners’ and Restaurant associations, have agreed a new Employment Rights Order setting out minimum pay and standards for the industry sector. They will come into force in twenty one days if there are no objections.
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SR Technics workers to meet EC Commissioner Spidla over pensions shortfall
29.04.2009SR Technics workers travel to Brussels today to meet the European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Vladimir Spidla and other senior officials. They will be raising their concerns about the failure of SR Technics to address the pensions’ deficit at the company before it closes, even though it is solvent and could meet its liabilities to the workforce.
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LTAI workers accept NIB proposals to introduce new pay and conditions to save jobs
27.04.2009Workers at the Lufthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland plant have voted by almost four to one to accept proposals hammered out in 11 hours of talks at the National Implementation Body to resolve the dispute over new pay rates and conditions at the Rathcoole plant in County Dublin. The outcome has been welcomed by union negotiators.
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Belfast Sit-In Workers from Visteon car plant to help launch Dublin’s First Labour FilmFest tomorrow night
27.04.2009Workers who have been occupying the Visteon car parts plant in Belfast for the past month will help kick off the Dublin Labour FilmFest tomorrow night (Tuesday, April 28) at the Irish Film Institute. The Festival is the first of its kind in Dublin and is part of the centenary celebrations of SIPTU.
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SIPTU expert says real figure for work related deaths is 1,400 per year not the official figure of 60
27.04.2009Congratulating Dara Calleary on his promotion to Minister for State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for Labour Affairs, SIPTU’s Safety and Health Advisor Sylvester Cronin warned him that the area of Occupational Health and Safety presented “an immense challenge if workers health and welfare at work were to be adequately protected”.
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Talks to save LTAI end with both sides recommending settlement
25.04.2009Both sides in talks to resolve the Lufthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland dispute have unanimously agreed to recommend new proposals to resolve the dispute that threatens 465 jobs at the company’s Rathcoole plant. The proposals, hammered out in 11 hours of talks under the auspices of the National Implementation Body , will be put to the workforce on Monday.
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Safety of public water supply cannot be assured as long as water services provided by local authorities are covered by jobs embargo
24.04.2009The Local Authority Professional Officers Branch of SIPTU has expressed its ‘extreme concern’ that the employment embargo is compromising the provision of safe drinking water to communities throughout the state. It was commenting on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Report on the Provision and Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland for the Years 2007-2008, which records that 15 local authorities had been directed to restore drinking water quality and one had been prosecuted for failure to comply with a legally binding Direction.
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Amann closure poses major loss to North Kerry says SIPTU
24.04.2009Workers at the Amann plant in Tralee have been told that all 340 jobs will be gone by mid-2010 when the plant closes. SIPTU Branch Organiser Con Casey said after meeting with management today that, “The effect will be catastrophic in North Kerry. This is a company where whole families have been employed and they will now find it next to impossible to find alternative employment.
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LTAI management and unions meet National Implementation Body today over threatened plant closure
24.04.2009Unions at Lufthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland met with the National Implementation Body at Government Buildings this morning to discuss the dispute at the company’s Rathcoole plant, when protective notice has been given to 465 workers.
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SIPTU says jobs moratorium will cripple radiology services in the public health system
23.04.2009“The recently enforced recruitment moratorium will cripple radiology services within the health service if not reversed”, Health Professional Branch Organiser Kevin Figgis has warned. “The moratorium has already erased many previously approved positions and, with recruitment at a stand still, many vital positions within the profession are not being filled.
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SIPTU calls on LTAI to re-enter talks to save jobs at Rathcoole plant and says Government must put in place plan to save aviation sector
22.04.2009SIPTU Branch Organiser Teresa Hannick, has called on Luthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland to re-enter talks with its unions over the future of the Rathcoole plant. “Given the very narrow rejection of the cost cutting proposals I think it is unfortunate that the company decided to issue protective notice to all its employees”, she said.
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SIPTU calls for new powers to be given to the Pensions Board after SR Technics debacle
22.04.2009SIPTU Branch Organiser Pat Ward has called for new legislation to give the Pensions Board similar powers to its British counterpart, which can order solvent company’s that are winding down or selling an enterprise to address deficits in employees’ pension funds. He was commenting after the SR Technics unions met with the Chief Executive of the Pensions Board, Brendan Kennedy, today.
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SIPTU says the new HSE circular seeks to meet cost saving targets at the expense of temporary front line staff and patients
22.04.2009SIPTU National Industrial Secretary Matt Merrigan has condemned the new staffing restrictions proposed by the HSE. “The HSE is planning to cut contract and locum staff as the easy administrative option. It may be an easy option but it will be impact hardest on front line staffing levels and patients”, he said.
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SIPTU calls for publication of Commission on Nursing Report
21.04.2009The SIPTU Nursing Convention in Sligo has called for publication of the Commission on Nursing Hours Report which deals with the implementation of a shorter week for nurses. Addressing the Convention today, Professor Tom Collins, Chairperson of the Commission on Nursing Hours, said members of the profession that he and his colleagues had met while compiling the Report, met felt marginalised and frustrated.
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SIPTU health sector leader criticises approach of HSE and Fine Gael to cutbacks in health services
21.04.2009The Health Service Executive approach to cuts is counter-productive and disappointing, SIPTU National Industrial Secretary Matt Merrigan told the SIPTU Nursing Conference in Sligo today. “Much of the rhetoric by right wing politicians such as Leo Varadkar of Fine Gael is simply aimed at making cheap points rather than addressing serious issues of reform”, Mr. Merrigan said.
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“SOCIAL DIVIDEND” ESSENTIAL IF THERE IS TO BE ANY NEW AGREEMENT WITH GOVERNMENT
18.04.2009Jack O’Connor, SIPTU General President speaking at the Limerick Soviet Commemoration - I want to thank the organisers for affording me an opportunity to participate in this commemoration of the Limerick Soviet. Your event is taking place against the background of the collapse of the Anglo American model of capitalism globally which is compounded by a domestic crisis which is entirely attributable to the way in which it was slavishly mimicked by policy makers in this country. My predecessor as an officer of our Union, Bill O’Brien, was severely criticised for the way in which he dealt with the issues presenting around the Limerick Soviet. I had hoped the invitation would afford me the opportunity to make some amends. However, I have to say I’m offering a reformist perspective on contemporary issues.
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SIPTU drivers vote to accept terms but Union warns that major problems remain
16.04.2009SIPTU drivers at Dublin Bus have voted today to accept the Labour Court recommendation on their dispute by 56 per cent to 44 per cent. SIPTU Branch Organiser Willie Noone said afterwards that the result “should be viewed as a progressive decision by drivers, who remain willing to fight to maintain their conditions of employment and job security. However they do not want to disrupt the travelling public and give ammunition to speculators who want to break up Dublin Bus and make profits on the backs of workers and to the detriment of the public transport system.
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SIPTU gives cautious welcome to Government commitment on one year’s free childcare plan
16.04.2009SIPTU Organiser Darragh O’Connor has given a cautious welcome to the Government’s commitment to provide one year’s free childcare announced during last week’s Budget. “Early years care and education play a vital role in a child’s personal, social and cognitive development,” he said. “However quality must be at the heart of childcare provision and this cannot be done in the absence of quality jobs for childcare professionals.
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SIPTU to ballot members in Dublin Bus again on Thursday following Labour Court clarification on its original recommendation
14.04.2009SIPTU is to ballot members in Dublin Bus on the new document from the Labour Court clarifying a number of issues in the dispute over the company’s cost cutting plans. After receiving the document this morning SIPTU Branch Organiser Willie Noone said, “It has dealt with a number of issues which we raised with the Court and is positive from our point of view.
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Labour Court issues clarifications in Dublin Bus dispute
09.04.2009The threat of major disruption to Dublin Bus this weekend has been lifted following talks between the company and unions at the Labour Court this afternoon. The Court is expected to issue a document on Tuesday clarifying a number of points in response to issues raised by SIPTU and the National Bus and Rail Union.
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SIPTU welcomes LTAI acceptance of Labour Court invitation to talks
09.04.2009SIPTU Branch Organiser Tersea Hannick has welcomed the decision of Lufthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland management to accept the invitation to attend talks at the Labour Court in the current dispute over new work practices at its Rathcoole plant. “We have been urging the company to use the facilities of the court to resolve our differences”, she said.
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SIPTU calls for further talks at LTAI
08.04.2009SIPTU Branch Organiser Teresa Hannick has called on Lufthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland to re-enter talks with the unions onworkplace change at its plant in Rathcoole, Co. Dublin. “We warned management during twelve hours of talks at the Labour Relations Commission on Monday that further engagement was necessary if we were to reach an agreement that production workers at the plant would buy into.
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Talks fail on redundancies at Dawn Meats
08.04.2009Talks on 65 redundancies at the boning hall of Dawn Meats in Midleton, Co Cork, broke down at the Labour Relations Commission today. SIPTU, which represents the workers affected, is now seeking to refer the case to the Labour Court. SIPTU Branch Organiser Ben Weathers said afterwards that the talks failed because the company was not willing to offer more than three-and-a-half weeks pay per year of service to each member, inclusive of statutory entitlements. Dawn Meats also wanted to cap payments at €600 a week.
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Budget levies will drive low income families into arms of money lenders says SIPTU Equality Head
08.04.2009The Budget levies will drive more low income families into the arms of the money lenders, Anne Speed, Head of Equality and Campaigning for SIPTU warned today. “The Minister for Finance says he is calling on those who can afford to pay to do so to contribute in the Budget, but he is actually making those who cannot foot the bill pay too much to meet the cost of years of reckless spending because they are an easy target”, she said.
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SIPTU members narrowly reject Dublin Bus cost cutting proposals
07.04.2009SIPTU members have voted by a very small majority to reject the latest proposals to emerge from the Labour Court to resolve the Dublin Bus dispute. The Union’s Branch Organiser Willie Noone has called on the company to provide space for him to consult with the members and identify the outstanding issues that still need to be addressed.
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SIPTU General President says Budget does not provide basis for social solidarity
07.04.2009“This Budget has all the hallmarks of a centre right response to the crisis”, SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor said today. “It represents the socialisation of the toxic debt accumulated by the banks through reckless lending, and contrasts sharply with the imposition of the two per cent levy and the doubling of the health levies on middle and lower income families.
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SIPTU Community Childcare Campaign secures support of more local authorities
07.04.2009South Dublin County Council, South Tipperary County Council and Tralee Town Council have all passed motions calling on the Minister for Children and Young People, Barry Andrews, ‘to begin negotiations with Community Childcare workers through their Union SIPTU, in order to address the real and immediate issues facing the Community Childcare Sector’. All three local authorities voted through the motion at meetings last night.
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SIPTU says threatening attitude of Lufthansa Technik Airmotive management has may mean lost opportunity to work with employees
07.04.2009SIPTU has condemned the decision of Lufthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland (LTAI) to threaten the closure of its plant in Rathcoole, Co Dublin, if employees vote to reject proposals on new work practices. Workers at the plant, which employs 475 people, are voting on the proposals tomorrow.
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SIPTU to meet HSE chief on recruitment embargo on Wednesday
06.04.2009“The most recent health cutback announcement, including a moratorium on recruitment by the HSE has been greeted with disbelief by SIPTU members working in the health service”, the union’s National Nursing Official Louise O’Reilly said today. “It now appears that the Department of Finance is running the Heath Service. This cannot be good for patients or for staff.”
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SIPTU condemns hypocrisy and greed of ‘Fast Buck’ Food outlets using legal challenge to avoid paying employees proper rates
06.04.2009“The Quick Service Food Alliance shows a brazen disregard for the facts and fair play in its attack on the employment rights of workers”, SIPTU National Industrial Secretary Gerry McCormack said today. “If they were honest they should at least have the decency to call themselves the Fast Buck Food Alliance and stop their hypocritical posturing.
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SIPTU says new Aer Lingus CEO must take a long term strategic view and work with union
06.04.2009SIPTU says whoever replaces Dermot Mannion as Chief Executive of Aer Lingus must have a long term strategic view of the national carrier’s development. “We are not going to comment on his departure”, the union’s National Industrial Secretary Gerry McCormack said. “From our perspective that is a matter for Mr. Mannion and the Board of Aer Lingus. Our concern is that the new Chief Executive has strategic view and develops business plans based on the long term development of Aer Lingus.
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SIPTU local authority workers to demonstrate against pension levy and public service cutbacks in Navan
06.04.2009Speaking at today’s protest outside County Hall, Navan, SIPTU Branch Organiser Ramon O’Reilly said, “While we welcome the renewed talks between the social partners and the Government, we are continuing our campaign of protests to ensure that any proposals that emerge are based on equity and fairness, and on the Ten Point Plan proposed by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
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Threatened job losses at Dawn Meats
04.04.2009SIPTU is to meet Dawn Meats management at the Labour Relations Commission on Wednesday to discuss possible job losses at the company’s Midleton plant. Although media reports suggest up to 160 jobs may be threatened the union is only aware of proposals to transfer work from the boning hall at Midleton to other locations in either Ireland or England. The total number of jobs in this area is 65.
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SR Technics unions call on Government to act immediately to save aviation industry
03.04.2009SR Technics unions are calling on the Government to “act before it is too late to save the aviation industry and avoid a major industrial dispute”. SIPTU Branch Organiser Pat Ward said last night that time had run out to resolve the issues with SR Technics and its sovereign fund backer Mubadala. He also questioned SR Technics claim that it was costing €2 million a week to keep the North Dublin plant open. He estimated that the true figure was nearer to €600,000 or €700,000.
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Over 1,000 SR Technics workers vote to accept Labour Court recommendation on redundancies
02.04.2009Over 1,000 SR Technics workers have voted to accept the Labour Court recommendation on redundancies at the North Dublin aircraft maintenance dispute. Two workers voted against in a ballot held today.
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SIPTU welcomes Labour Court ruling on construction industry agreement
02.04.2009SIPTU National Organiser Noel Dowling has welcomed the Labour Court recommendation on the construction industry, which has ruled out the ten per cent pay cut sought by employers. Mr. Dowling, who is also chairman of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Construction Industry Committee, said today that, “The Court’s ruling has vindicated the position of the ICTU Group of Unions.
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SIPTU condemn IBEC’s call for Social Welfare Cuts
02.04.2009SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor says IBEC’s call for social welfare cuts contrasts sharply with the heart rendering images of people queuing on breadlines, so graphically depicted in today’s newspapers.
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Dublin Bus proposals to go to ballot
01.04.2009SIPTU is to hold a mass meeting of members in Dublin Bus at Liberty Hall on Friday at 11.00am to discuss the Labour Court recommendation on resolving the dispute over cutbacks and changed work practices at the company. Members will be balloted on the proposals next Tuesday.
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Mass meeting of SR Technics workers to be held tomorrow morning
01.04.2009Unions at SR Technics are to hold a mass meeting of members at 9.00am tomorrow at the plant. They will be balloting members on the Labour Court recommendation issued yesterday with a recommendation for acceptance. Based on the outcome of the ballot the unions will discuss their options.
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SIPTU dispute on Stena Line could disrupt Irish Sea routes
01.04.2009Stena Line sailings on the Irish Sea could face severe disruption this month as SIPTU prepares to ballot members for industrial action. The mandate is up to and including strike action over the company’s plans to force through compulsory redundancies.
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SIPTU is disappointed but not surprised at the mean fisted response of SR Technics to Labour Court proposals
31.03.2009SIPTU Branch Organiser Pat Ward said this evening that the Union was “disappointed but not surprised at the mean fisted response of SR Technics to the Labour Court recommendation. In stating that the company should meet the deficit in the employees’ pension funds the Court was doing no more than asking SR Technics to meet its moral and financial obligations to the workers.
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SIPTU to seek maximum emphasis on retraining for workers being let go by Schering Plough
31.03.2009SIPTU Branch Organiser Kieron Connolly says that the union will be using the time before the final closure of the Schering Plough plant in Bray to maximise retraining for the workforce. The Union represents over a third of the employees, mainly general operatives.
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Labour Court recommends SR Technics meets short fall in pension scheme and doubles ex gratia redundancy payments for workers
31.03.2009The Labour Court has recommended that SR Technics make good the shortfall in the company’s defined benefit scheme and also any shortfall in the Irish Airline Superannuation Scheme, to which some of the employees belong. It further recommends that the ex gratia payment of one week’s pay per year of service be effectively doubled to two weeks pay, on top of the statutory two weeks per year of service that each employee is entitled to.
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SIPTU accepts invitation to talks at LRC on Dublin Airport dispute
30.03.2009SIPTU has accepted the invitation to attend talks at the Labour Relations Commission tomorrow on the dispute over the payment of increments at the Dublin Airport Authority. It is not invoking industrial action and is calling on the DAA to comply with all existing agreements, including those relating to the payment of increments.
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SIPTU urges IDA to support new bid to save 900 jobs at SR Technics
31.03.2009SR Technics has received a serious expression of interest within the past 24 hours to acquire its facility at Dublin airport and save 900 jobs. The company made the admission during a Labour Court hearing today in response to questions from SIPTU Branch Organiser Pat Ward. He also called on the IDA to help fund the proposed Transfer of Undertakings proposal, which comes in the form of a new Management Buy Out bid.
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SIPTU receives invitation to attend LRC over Dublin Airport Authority dispute
27.03.2009SIPTU has received an invitation to attend the Labour Relations Commission over the dispute at the Dublin Airport Authority. The Union will be considering the invitation on Monday.
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Statement by SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor on Dublin Airport Authority dispute
27.03.2009SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor has issued the following statement on the dispute at the Dublin Airport Authority in order to clarify the position regarding reports that the Union intends to promote industrial action in the State airports on Thursday, April 2, 2009.
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SIPTU welcomes intervention of Labour Court in Dublin Bus dispute
26.03.2009SIPTU Branch Organiser Willie Noone has welcomed the intervention of the Labour Court in the Dublin Bus dispute. He confirmed that the threatened strike action by SIPTU drivers on Sunday will not be going ahead but warned that the Court faced a major challenge in finding a resolution to the dispute that could meet the company’s objectives without inflicting hardship on his members and the travelling public.
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Talks on National Agreement
25.03.2009SIPTU's General Officers have told members that the priority in talks on a new agreement will be protecting jobs, even if it means extending the Government's time frame for borrowing. It will also seek a two year moratorium on house repossessions and the use of mediation rather than the courts to resolve problems with repayments.
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SR Technics dispute to be referred to the Labour Court
24.03.2009The SR Technics unions have asked for the dispute to be referred as a matter of urgency to the Labour Court. This follows the failure to make any progress in today’s talks at the Labour Relations Commission.
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Cape Clear Ferry to be hit by March 30th stoppage
24.03.2009The Naomh Ciaran II Ferry which travels between Baltimore and Cape Clear will be among the employments hit by ICTU protest on March 30th. SIPTU Sectoral Organiser Eddie Mullins said in a statement today, “We wish to advise the general public, that our members, employed on the Naomh Ciaran 11, will withdraw their services from 08.00 hrs on Monday March 30th, 2009 and return to work at 17.00 hrs on the same day.
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SIPTU Taxi Drivers plan next protest at Dublin Airport for April 1st
24.03.2009SIPTU will be holding its next protest in pursuit of the Taxi Drivers Rights Campaign at Dublin Airport from 7am until 11am on April 1st.
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SIPTU leader does not receive any payments from involvement on the Commission on Taxation
23.03.2009Following media reports that members of the Commission on Taxation are paid close on €700 per day where a commitment of more than half a day’s attendance is required, and €350 for less than half a day, SIPTU Vice President Brendan Hayes has issued a statement advising all union members that he receives nothing for his services to the Commission.
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Eighty per cent of SIPTU members reject Dublin Bus proposals
19.03.2009SIPTU drivers with Dublin Bus have voted by four to one to reject the latest €31 million cost cutting proposals needed to offset the reduction in the Government’s public transport subsidy to CIE. “Unsurprisingly the cost cutting proposals were overwhelmingly rejected by our members”, SIPTU Branch Organiser Willie Noone said after the votes were counted.
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Unions seek intervention of Labour Relations Commission after talks break down with SR Technics
19.03.2009Talks between union representatives and SR Technics management were “very charged and emotive”, SIPTU Branch Organiser Pay Ward said after a three-and-a-half hour meeting today. “There was no progress made and we have referred the dispute to the labour Relations Commission because of the entrenched position taken by management.”
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SIPTU taxi drivers to resume protests
19.03.2009The Taxi Drivers Branch of SIPTU has decided to resume its campaign of protests at Dublin airport. The first will take place from 7am to 11am tomorrow. Dates and times of further protests will be announced in due course.
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SIPTU meets with IDA Ireland over SR Technics bids
19.03.2009SIPTU met with senior executives of IDA Ireland this morning over the future of the SR Technics facility at Dublin airport, which is due to close on March 31 with the loss of 1,350 jobs. Afterwards Branch Organiser Pat Ward said, “We were told that there had been up to thirty expressions of interest in acquiring the facility, some of them from major players in the aviation sector.
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Time of SR Technics meeting with unions tomorrow changed to facilitate Tanaiste
18.03.2009The meeting between SR Technics and the company’s unions has been put back until 2pm tomorrow to facilitate a meeting the Tanaiste, Mary Coughlan, has requested with the company tomorrow morning. As a result the time of the meeting between SR Technics and the unions has been changed from 10.30am until 2pm, Thursday, March 19.
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Dublin Bus agrees to plan to protect drivers’ jobs in new plan
13.03.2009Dublin Bus management has agreed to amend its cost cutting plan to ensure there are no compulsory redundancies and all drivers will be guaranteed at least five days work a week. After intensive negotiations under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission a rationalisation plan was agreed between Dublin Bus management and the unions this afternoon which avoids the mass sacking of 160 new, probationary drivers.
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Dublin Bus talks to resume in morning
12.03.2009Substantial progress was made in talks on the Dublin Bus dispute today. SIPTU and the National Bus and Rail Union are to meet again with the company tomorrow morning to clarify and resolve a number of outstanding issues. The final document is expected to be ready by lunch time and will be made available to drivers over the weekend.
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SIPTU welcomes Aer Lingus results and says restructuring has put national carrier on a sound basis for the future
11.03.2009SIPTU National Industrial Secretary Gerry McCormack has welcomed the Aer Lingus results for 2008. “The national carrier made an operating profit of over €20 million in a very challenging economic climate. Passenger numbers and revenue were both up.
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SIPTU calls on Government to ensure unions involved in efforts to save SR Technics plant from closure
11.03.2009SIPTU Branch Organiser Pat Ward says there are serious questions arising from the strategy adopted by the IDA and Enterprise Ireland in seeking new investors to take over the SR Technics plant in North Dublin. “The IDA and Enterprise Ireland are referring all potential investors to SR Technics and to its Senior Vice President for Corporate Development, Stephanie Kennett. We find it hard to follow the logic of this approach”, he said.
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Taxi unions to engage in advisory process on licences but also expected to continue campaign of action
10.03.2009The main taxi organisations are to meet in the morning to consider their options following discussions with the Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey and his Assistant Secretary for land transport Andy Cullen. After today’s meeting SIPTU Branch Organiser Jerry Brennan said, “We will respond positively to the Minister’s request to raise our concerns about the Review of the industry carried out by Goodbody Economic Consultants with the Advisory Council to the Taxi Regulator. However, we will also be discussing with our colleagues how best to continue our campaign for taxi drivers’ rights as well.
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SR Technics unions demand to meet board in Dublin next Monday
10.03.2009Unions at SR Technics, the troubled aircraft maintenance plant in Dublin facing closure with the loss of nearly 1,200 full-time jobs, have demanded to meet the board of the company. It is due to meet in Switzerland next Monday but the unions are calling for the meeting to be transferred to Dublin so that the directors can explain to them “why they are making such a derisory offer”, SIPTU Branch Organiser Pat Ward said after today’s meeting.
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SIPTU local authority workers in North Dublin march through Swords in protest at pension levy
09.03.2009Over 500 SIPTU members who work for Final County Council marched through the centre of Swords this afternoon to protest at the impact of the pension levy on their earnings. The Council is to debate a motion calling for the rescinding of the levy this evening.
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SIPTU to resume Rights Campaign for Taxi drivers
09.03.2009Commenting on Goodbody’s financial review of the taxi industry, SIPTU Branch Organiser Jerry Brennan said it came as no surprise that it did not support a moratorium on issuing licences. “It concurs with Transport Minister Noel Dempsey’s letter to me on October 6 last year, in which he stated that he ‘would not contemplate a moratorium’ on more taxi plates being issued.
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Employers warned not to try and use recession to erode women’s hard won rights in the workplace
06.03.2009Employers have been warned against targeting women workers during the current recession by Anne Speed, Head of SIPTU’s Equality and Campaigning Division. She was speaking at the opening of the Irish Congress of Trade Union’s Women’s Seminar in Belfast today.
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SR Technics to resume payment of pension contributions for workers facing redundancy and Works Forum adopts SIPTU rescue plan
05.03.2009SR Technics has agreed to resume payment of the employer’s contributions to the workers pension fund today. It had stopped making the contributions on February 5.
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Bausch and Lomb tells SIPTU representatives it remains committed to Waterford plant as redundancies announced
04.03.2009SIPTU has been told that Bausch and Lomb will be seeking 195 redundancies from its Waterford workforce of almost 1,500. However the company has given a commitment that the redundancies will be on a voluntary basis.
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Unprecedented fall in employment in Quarterly National Household Survey shows need for urgent action to save existing jobs
27.02.2009With news today that the numbers of those unemployed has shot up by 69 per cent over the year to the last quarter of 2008, SIPTU has called for urgent and drastic action to slow the haemorrhaging of jobs and provide some employment opportunities to the thousands that now find themselves jobless.
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ACT NOW – FOR A BETTER, FAIRER WAY
26.02.2009Our country is facing one of the greatest crises in its history. The implications for working people and their families are enormous. We need a clear plan to address the challenge facing us all based on the principle that everyone must contribute in accordance with their capacity to do so. That is why Congress set out the ten-point plan and the proposition for a three-year Agreement to provide stability. Over 120,000 people turned out to demonstrate against the Government's approach on Saturday, February 21. It was one of the biggest displays of public opinion ever seen in Ireland. Yet the Government and employers’ organisations remain undeterred. They are determined to resolve the crisis exclusively at the expense of working people who had no role whatever in creating it. Their strategy involves pay cuts across the economy as an alternative to devaluation of the currency in response to the fall in sterling and the dollar. Devaluation is in effect a pay cut by another name – but it applies to all sectors of society.
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Dublin Bus strike averted after talks at LRC
25.02.2009The threatened strike by SIPTU drivers at Dublin Bus from March 1st has been averted following talks at the Labour Relations Commission today. Afterwards SIPTU Branch Organiser Willie Noone said, “The action by our members has been deferred after the company agreed to enter direct talks with us under the auspices of the LRC over its cost cutting plan.
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SIPTU disappointed at latest round of redundancies at Brooks Hanley group
25.02.2009SIPTU National Industrial Secretary Gerry McCormack said today he was disappointed to hear that the Brooks Hanley Group was proposing to shed a large number of jobs. “It is only about six months since we negotiated significant redundancies with the company and we will be meeting with them shortly to discuss the new proposed lay-offs. However it undoubtedly reflects the continuing downturn in the construction sector.”
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SR Technics tells unions it is not yet prepared for negotiations over closure
20.02.2009Unions at SR Technics were told today that the company was not yet ready to discuss its planned closure of the North Dublin plant, or handover to a new operator, as it had still to finalise its refinancing arrangements for the whole group. Meanwhile the Dublin Airport Authority will be ending the leasing arrangement for the hangars where the company employs over 1,200 highly skilled workers.
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SIPTU calls on construction workers to join tomorrow’s day of protest at Government plans to make PAYE workers foot the bill for the crisis and protect financial elite
20.02.2009SIPTU National Organiser Noel Dowling, who is Chairperson of the Construction Industry Committee said today that builders and developers, “were the biggest beneficiaries of the economic boom and the first group of employers to walk away from their commitments to their workers and the wider community.
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SR Technic unions come out of meeting with Tanaiste ‘with a little more hope’ than they went in
19.02.2009SIPTU Branch Organiser Pat Ward said the SR Technics delegation had come out of its meeting with the Tánaiste Mary Coughlan this evening “with a little more hope than we went in”. He also acknowledged the strong support they had received from the Labour leader Eamon Gilmore and Sinn Fein TDs at meetings with delegations from both parties during the day.
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Construction unions reject call for ten per cent pay cut by employers
19.02.2009The Chairperson of the Construction Industry Committee, Noel Dowling of SIPTU, has rejected calls by the Construction Industry Federation for a ten per cent cut in building workers’ pay. Mr. Dowling was speaking on the eve of the Labour Court hearing tomorrow into the Registered Employment Agreement (REA) for the building industry. The unions are seeking implementation of the national agreement for a 3.5 per cent pay rise under the first phase of the national agreement. The CIF wants a ten per cent pay cut.
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SR Technics unions to meet Government and opposition parties over future of North Dublin plant
19.02.2009SR Technics unions are to meet the Tánaiste, Mary Coughlan, and opposition parties today ahead of their next meeting with management tomorrow. SIPTU Branch Organiser Pat Ward said today that, “We intend to impress on the Tánaiste and the opposition parties that Ireland is in danger of losing a unique skills set that has been developed over the past fifty years at Dublin airport and will be gone forever if we allow the SR Technics plant to close.
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SIPTU drivers decide on continuous strike at Dublin Bus from March 1st
18.02.2009The Dublin Bus Branch of SIPTU decided this afternoon to implement the mandate they received from their driver members in Dublin Bus and commence strike action as and from 00.01 hours on Sunday, March 1, 2009. This action is not for one day only but will be continuous as it is apparent that no alternative course of action is left open to SIPTU drivers in Dublin Bus to protect their conditions of employment in the company.
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THERE IS A BETTER, FAIRER WAY
18.02.2009Our society is experiencing what may well come to be regarded as its most serious challenge in the history of the State. The combination of the global crisis aggravated by our own domestic problems threatens the security and quality of the lives of virtually all our citizens in a most dramatic way. The situation calls for a unified national response which involves all sectors. Everyone must be prepared to play their part in accordance with their capacity to do so. It is critically important that the privileged and the wealthy, especially those who did best during the celtic tiger years make a significant contribution. Instead the Government is rescuing the financial elite while ordinary PAYE workers are being thrown to the wolves. Meanwhile the wealthy are required to contribute nothing new. This will not work. We need a plan that is fair to everyone.
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SIPTU welcomes Minister’s support for fair redundancy deal at Swissco
17.02.2009SIPTU has welcomed the support of the Minister for Labour Affairs, Billy Kelleher, for the Swissco workers and for the company to honour a Labour Court recommendation on redundancy pay. The Court has recommended that the 154 employees receive an additional two weeks' pay per year of service on top of their statutory entitlements, effectively doubling the award.
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SIPTU leader says time is running out to agree Social Solidarity Pact or ‘possibility situation will escalate dramatically out of control’
16.02.2009SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor has warned that unless the Government, employers and the financial elite are prepared to face up to the need for a Social Solidarity Pact, rather than expect PAYE workers to pay for the current crisis “there is every possibility the situation will escalate dramatically out of control” within a matter of weeks.
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SR Technics – SIPTU workers to meet Tanaiste on Thursday in campaign to save Dublin plant
16.02.2009After meeting with workers in SR Technics today SIPTU Branch Organiser Pat Ward said that learning the details of the company’s closure plans was “a shock experience for members that quickly turned to anger.
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SIPTU Community Welfare Officers call on Government to wake up to the new reality of thousands more desperate families
16.02.2009“Requests for assistance have increased by well over 50 per cent in many regions of the Republic but our staffing levels to help families and individuals in distress remain frozen by the HSE staffing and recruitment embargo”, SIPTU Health Professionals' Branch Organiser Kevin Figgis said today. He was speaking at a press conference organised by the Union’s Community Welfare Officers' Executive Committee.
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Open Day for Dublin Hotel Workers - Know Your Rights!
13.02.2009SIPTU is organising an Open Day for hotel workers in the ALSAA complex at Dublin airport on Wednesday, February 18. It will be held from 1.00pm to 7.00pm and is aimed at making them more aware of their rights. Hotel staff are amongst the most exploited and lowest paid workers in Ireland. Figures released by the National Employment Rights Authority last year show that its inspectors found 78 per cent of hotels were in breach of the law and NERA recouped over €329,684 in unpaid wages for staff.
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SIPTU vows to fight for jobs at SR TEchnics
12.02.2009SIPTU Branch Organiser Pat Ward has told senior management at SR Technics that the Union is willing to do its utmost to save jobs at the company’s North Dublin plant but will resist closure. "We intend using the thirty day consultation process to the utmost to try and save these job", he said after the meeting with CEO Bernd Kessler and other top executives today.
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SIPTU says Government seeking to drive wedge between public and private sector workers on behalf of rich and powerful supporters
11.02.2009Describing the attacks on workers as irresponsible, Marie Butler SIPTU Branch Organiser in Waterford, said that the attempt to drive a wedge between public and private sector workers was “irresponsible, and is being done to create a smoke screen to hide the Government’s rich and famous friends.
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SIPTU calls for campaign to promote better, fairer way of tackling economic crisis
10.02.2009The SIPTU National Executive Council, in emergency session today, called for a united trade union campaign to promote a better, fairer way of addressing the problems in our economy than slashing the pay and conditions of workers.
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Private hospitals and and health care insurers warned not to renege on pay rise for health workers
08.02.2009SIPTU has warned private hospitals and health insurers such as the VHI and Quinn group that they must honour the first phase of the national agreement, worth 3.5 per cent, when it falls due. The Union’s Dublin Health Sector Organiser, Paul Bell, said he was “surprised to learn over the weekend that some private hospitals, all of which are profitable, have taken the position that they do not have to pay our members their due entitlements under the national programme.
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SIPTU demands Community Welfare Service be fully resourced to meet the spiralling toll on people’s lives
08.02.2009‘The current economic crisis has resulted in a dramatic rise in the number of people experiencing serious financial difficulties”, SIPTU Health Professionals' Branch Organiser Kevin Figgis said today. Mr. Figgis, who represents Community Welfare Officers across the State, added that in some regions applications for medical cards rose by 20 per cent between 2007 and 2008, claims for supplementary welfare rose by 45 per cent and claims for mortgage assistance by 70 per cent over the same period. Mortgage assistance claims have increased by another 12 per cent since Christmas.
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SIPTU Taxi Drivers Protest at Dublin Airport on Monday
07.02.2009SIPTU Taxi Drivers are to hold their second picket at Dublin Airport on Monday, February 9, from 11.00am until 2.00pm. The protest is part of a campaign for an appeals system against decisions of the Taxi Regulator.
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SIPTU President responds to Taoiseach’s ‘woolly words’ on Social Partnership
06.02.2009Commenting on the Taoiseach’s speech to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce last night, SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor said today, “We noted his desire to maintain the social partnership process, which is okay as far as it goes. However, despite all the woolly words about ‘working together’, the fact of the matter is that the only people he has inflicted pain upon in last Tuesday’s announcement are those who have to work for others for a living, while not a cent is required of the wealthy.
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Government targets ESB workers after attack on public service while it goes softly softly on banks and big business
06.02.2009The SIPTU Branch Organiser for ESB workers, Greg Ennis, has condemned the “recent negative ministerial comments made on the legitimate payment of the 3.5 per cent pay increase to ESB employees” as “hypocritical in the extreme and at odds with the pay provisions afforded under the current Social Partnership Agreement.
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SIPTU warns Ericsson that redundancies must be voluntary and criticises the manner in which job cuts were announced
05.02.2009SIPTU Organiser Peter Glynn says that the Union will be opposing any attempt by Ericsson to introduce compulsory job cuts. The company plans to shed 300 jobs out of the 1,700 in Ireland. All of the redundancies will come from the research and development section in Dublin.
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SIPTU President says ‘there is a better way’ to avoid catastrophic conflict in our society
05.02.2009Responding to the current crisis brought about by the collapse of the Social Partnership talks at the weekend and the subsequent actions of the Government, backed by Fine Gael, SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor said, “There is a better way. It is still not too late to agree a Social Solidarity Pact to avoid catastrophe in our society.
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SIPTU Taxi Drivers picket Noel Dempsey’s office today in campaign to secure Appeals system
05.02.2009”While we welcome the interest of the Committee it appears that there will be no change in Government policy. This leaves our members in the position that, unlike other workers, they have no access to the Rights Commissioner Service, the Labour Relations Commission or the Labour Court.
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Slump in consumption due to attacks on living standards will see unemployment reach half a million this year
04.02.2009“The attack on the living standards of low to middle income earners will see Live Register Unemployment soar to half a million this year” warns SIPTU Head of Research, Manus O’Riordan, in a comment on today’s Live Register figures.
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SIPTU says historic opportunity to create a fairer society to face challenge of economic crisis is being lost
03.02.2009SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor said this evening that he “very much regrets the failure to reach agreement on a social solidarity pact in our discussions with the Government to address the issues facing ordinary people as a result of ten years of recklessness on the part of those at the top in our society. The economic crisis threatens everyone in Ireland but it also offers an opportunity to develop a genuine national effort to which all sectors of society could contribute in accordance with their capacity to do so.
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SIPTU Taxi Drivers to launch campaign for right to appeals procedure with protest at Dublin Airport tomorrow
01.02.2009SIPTU Taxi Drivers are to go ahead with the launch of a campaign to secure the right to an appeals process for the industry with a protest at Dublin Airport between 7.00am and 11.00am tomorrow, Monday, February 2. SIPTU Branch Organiser Jerry Brennan today rejected allegations by Michael O’Leary, Chief Executive of Ryanair, that the drivers would be taking strike action in the morning.
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Fight for union recognition an unfinished part of Larkin legacy
30.01.2009Trade union leaders “are engaged in very tough negotiations to ensure the gains made in recent agreements on workplace rights are not eroded by the current employers’ offensive”, SIPTU General Secretary Joe O’Flynn said today. “The most crucial of these gains is a commitment from the Government to outlaw discrimination against trade union activists in the workplace.”
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Workers and local community pick up tab as Bausch and Lomb goes on short time, but no job losses
29.01.2009SIPTU Branch Organiser Marie Butler said today that the announcement by Bausch Lomb in Waterford that short time working will operate over the next six months because of the general economic slow down did not come as a surprise. However she did express concern that workers and the local community in Waterford would again take the main hit for the current market problems.
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SIPTU Taxi Drivers to launch campaign for right to appeals procedure with protest at Dublin Airport next Monday
29.01.2009SIPTU Taxi Drivers have decided to launch a campaign to secure the right to an appeals process for the industry with a protest at Dublin Airport between 7.00am and 11.00am on Monday, February 2. “Unlike virtually every other group in the workforce Taxi Drivers have no right of appeal from decisions by the Regulator under the Taxi Regulation Act of 2003”, SIPTU Branch Organiser Jerry Brennan said today.
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Gender Stereotypes are still prevalent in film, television, theatre and radio in Europe
27.01.2009Women performers continue to struggle for work, particularly as they get older according to a new study, Age, Gender and Performer Employment in Europe.
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SIPTU and IBOA aim to protect jobs and customers as Ulster Bank and First Active merge in RBS restructuring
26.01.2009SIPTU and the Finance Union have warned Ulster Bank and First Active that there must be no compulsory redundancies at either bank as a result of restructuring by their parent, Royal Bank of Scotland, with proposed job cuts totalling 750 (200 in Northern Ireland and 550 in the Republic). They said that services to customers at First Active, which is being merged with Ulster Bank, must also be protected.
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Britvic fails to consult Union and staff on proposed job cuts in Cork, Waterford and Donegal
23.01.2009SIPTU Branch Organiser John Flavin says the Union is “very disappointed that Britvic did not see fit to consult us before deciding to announce 120 redundancies in its logistics division today. We were only notified by phone at 9.00am, just before an announcement was to our members.
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SIPTU Branch President welcomes Tara ballot result
22.01.2009SIPTU Meath Branch President Anton McCabe has welcomed the result of the ballots at Tara Mines, which will allow it to continue operations. “This was a very difficult decision for our members involving a serious sacrifice in terms of working conditions”, he said.
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SIPTU members at Tara Mines vote for new terms while Galmoy closes ahead of schedule due to market conditions
22.01.2009Tara Mines production staff members have agreed to accept new terms providing for continuous, four cycle shift working, while SIPTU members in Galmoy are to be laid off a year early as a result of market conditions.
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SIPTU in talks with Superquinn over proposed job cuts
21.01.2009Superquinn is proposing to close its Dundalk store with the loss of 70 jobs and further redundancies of around 330 at other locations are planned, it told its unions today. Peadar Nolan of SIPTU said the job losses in Dundalk were largely due to the loss of trade across the Border. The supermarket chain employs 3,300 people in the Republic.
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SIPTU health workers in Dublin vote by 98 per cent in favour of industrial action to protect their jobs and conditions
20.01.2009SIPTU members in the Dublin Health Services Branch have voted by 98 per cent to take industrial action if necessary to protect their jobs and conditions of employment. The count was concluded in Liberty Hall, Dublin, this afternoon.
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SIPTU condemns vicious, futile shooting of cash-in-transit worker
20.01.2009SIPTU Security Sector Organiser Kevin McMahon has condemned the vicious shooting of a member working for Brinks in Clontarf, Dublin, early this morning. “Changes in the operation of the vans makes these attacks as futile as they are vicious”, he said.
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SIPTU says vague Bus Eireann cutbacks plan creates uncertainty for commuters and rural communities as well as workers
20.01.2009SIPTU says vague Bus Eireann cutbacks plan creates uncertainty for commuters and rural communities as well as workers
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Statement on the Economic Crisis
19.01.2009It is important that we analyse the economic crisis properly and respond to the challenge in a manner that best protects the jobs, pay and living standards of union members and workers generally. There is no point in under-estimating things. This is a global crisis on a scale that has not been seen since the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and its aftermath. It was correctly described in a recent editorial in the Irish Times as ‘… intrinsic to the very functioning of the capitalist system’. Tragically, the global problem has been compounded by the policies pursued here since 1997. These embraced the neo-liberal free-market model hook, line and sinker. The tax base was dismantled by cutting capital taxes and the higher rates of income tax dramatically in the interests of the well off. This was offset by shifting the emphasis from direct to indirect taxes such as VAT and stamp duty, thereby transferring the burden disproportionately onto the middle and lower income groups during the credit-led property boom which followed. When it evaporated, this left a gaping hole in the public finances.
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SIPTU miners to vote on settlement proposals to Tara Mines dispute
17.01.2009A general meeting of all SIPTU members in Tara Mines was held at the Ardboyne Hotel in Navan this evening to consider a set of proposals put forward by the independent facilitator Janet Hughes to the dispute over new work practices. A ballot on the proposals will begin on Monday and will conclude on Thursday morning. The result should be known by 12 noon on Thursday.
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SIPTU says it will oppose compulsory redundancies at Dublin Bus
16.01.2009SIPTU will resist any compulsory redundancies at the company, the Dublin Bus Branch President Tony Fallon said today after meeting with management. The company outlined its plans to SIPTU in the light of its declining financial position. It said the position would deteriorate further unless remedial action was taken.
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Travel disruption likely as Czech Airlines sack Dublin workforce
16.01.2009Czech Airline services face disruption from 3.00pm today at Dublin airport after the company refused to offer more than statutory redundancy to its Irish work force. It has refused repeated requests from SIPTU for talks and would only engage in an exchange of correspondence over the past six weeks.
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SIPTU says urgent need for Government plan to save Irish manufacturing industry base as details emerge of Kostal job losses
16.01.2009SIPTU has been told that Kostal will be shedding 200 jobs in Abbeyfeale and 100 at Mallow but the company remains committed to its Irish operation, the Union’s Sectoral Organiser Karan O’Loughlin said this morning. There will also be three-day week working every second week until the end of March at both plants.
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Urgent action needed on manufacturing strategy by Government if Mid-West is not to become unemployment waste land says SIPTU
15.01.2009SIPTU Sectoral Organiser Karan O’Loughlin has called on the Government to develop a strategy to tackle the manufacturing crisis now affecting the Mid-West as a matter of urgency. She was speaking after news broke today that 400 jobs are to be lost at RR Donnelly (Banta) Limited in Limerick. It is totally dependent on Dell for contracts, which is laying off 1,900 workers. One hundred of the employees are SIPTU members.
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SIPTU to meet Kostal over future of car component plants in Abbeyfeale and Mallow
15.01.2009The German car components company Kostal is to meet employees at 8.00am tomorrow in its two plants at Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick and Mallow, County Cork. SIPTU represents the workers and will be meeting with the company during the coming week. There are approximately 600 employees represented by SIPTU in Abbeyfeale and 400 in Mallow.
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SIPTU secures over €90,000 owed to sacked workers at the Ballymun Plaza Hotel
14.01.2009SIPTU has successfully secured over €90,000 owed to workers at the Ballymun Plaza Hotel who were sacked last April. Thirty-five workers took cases to the Rights Commissioner Service seeking wages, holiday pay and other outstanding monies owed to them when they lost their jobs. According to SIPTU Organiser, Miriam Hamilton, “The Ballymun Plaza Hotel closed suddenly on April 18, 2008, when the operating management was evicted by the building’s landlord. Staff members were forced to leave the premises with only enough time to collect their personal belongings. Their employer, the Ballymun Plaza Hotel refused to pay them any of the wages owed. The workers had no option other than to pursue the matter through the Rights Commissioner Service.
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SIPTU President says Government can only resolve economic crisis with all sectors of society contributing their fair share
10.01.2009Responding to remarks attributed to the Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan in this morning’s Irish Independent, implying pay cuts in the public sector by the end of this month, SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor, who is also Joint Vice President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions said that, “The scale of the figures presented by the Department of Finance yesterday are truly horrendous and they have enormous implications for our society and our economy. They are a consequence of the reckless agenda pursued by the PDs and the right wing of Fianna Fail between 2002 and 2007, during which our tax base was dismantled in the interests of the well off, capital taxation was all but abolished and top tax rates were reduced to a degree unparalleled in any developed western European country. All of this was camouflaged by the credit led property bubble it generated, which has now exploded against a background of an international depression, to the detriment of everyone in Ireland. It will require an unprecedented national effort, to which all sectors of society must contribute, to stabilise the economy over the next five to seven years.
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SIPTU monitoring situation at SR Technics
09.01.2009SIPTU Civil Aviation Organiser Jim Finnegan said today that members were “shocked to hear about the loss of the Gulf Air contract by SR Technics. We understand that the Zurich headquarters of the company informed its outlets, including Dublin, that Gulf Air is terminating its contract over the next six months.
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SIPTU concerned for employment in the Mid West
08.01.2009SIPTU Sectoral Organiser Karan O’Loughlin has expressed concern at the impact of the Dell job losses on employment levels generally in the mid west region. She estimates up to 4,000 jobs could be lost in total.
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SIPTU enters new talks process with Tara Mines management
07.01.2009SIPTU and Tara Mines management met this morning and again this afternoon. Afterwards the Union’s National Industrial Secretary Gerry McCormack said, “SIPTU has engaged with management today and a process has been agreed to discuss all of the issues. No further comment will be made until the process is completed.”
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SIPTU members agree to further engagement with management at Tara Mines
06.01.2009SIPTU members at Tara Mines agreed to further engagement with management after a long and, at times, heated meeting in Navan tonight. “There was a lot of anger among members, especially over the company decision to write directly to members’ families at home in the week before Christmas over closing the mine”, SIPTU National Industrial Secretary Gerry McCormack said.
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SIPTU meeting over Tara Mines this evening as trading environment improves
06.01.2009SIPTU is holding an information meeting for members at Tara Mines in the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan, at 6.30pm today to provide feedback on discussions with the company before Christmas. The company is proposing to substantially reduce productivity related earnings and revise shift patterns.
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SIPTU meeting over Tara Mines this evening
06.01.2009SIPTU is holding an information meeting for members at Tara Mines in the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan, at 7.00pm today to provide details of a company plan to introduce a seven day week. At present employees work a six day week or 5.5 day week and are not required to work Sundays. The company is proposing to put the mine on a care and maintenance basis from January 19 if its proposals are not accepted. This evening’s meeting is for information purposes and further meetings with members and the company are planned
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SIPTU President pays tribute to Tony Gregory
02.01.2009SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor paid tribute this evening to the late Tony Gregory TD.
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Centenary Year Greetings
01.01.2009On behalf of the National Executive Council of the Union, we would like to extend to all SIPTU members and their families our very best wishes for 2009. In this our centenary year, we salute the courage, personal sacrifice, commitment and solidarity of the women and men who founded, built and sustained this great trade union. We are proud of the organisation of tens of thousands of men and women, the improvement of pay and conditions of work and the contribution made to the economic, social and political life of the country.
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