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Press Room
2010
Porters in Mid-West Regional reject unfair allegations
11.03.2010Porters working at the Mid-West Regional Hospital in Limerick have rejected allegations made by the hospital management about them last weekend. They were responding to claims by a spokesman for management, reported in local and national media on Friday, 5th March, over levels of sick pay and alleged “issues of misconduct” among the 54 porters at the hospital. The SIPTU members also said they would resist any attempt to privatise the portering service, as threatened by management.
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Third Green Isle Foods hunger striker receives new work visa
09.03.2010John Recto, the third Green Isle Foods worker to join the hunger strike over the unfair dismissal of trade union members at the plant last July received a new work visa today from the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service. His last visa ran out yesterday.
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SIPTU serves Strike Notice on seven Dublin hospitals
09.03.2010SIPTU has served strike notice on seven Dublin hospitals for 48 hours with effect from Wednesday 7th April. Some 4,500 low paid members of the Union will withdraw their labour from 1.00 a.m. on Wednesday 7th April until 1.00 a.m. on Friday, 9th April.
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Addressing the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis in Dublin on Saturday (6th March) SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor said that the trade union movement was faced with embarking on “an intensive campaign of industrial action to leverage a fair agreement.”
06.03.2010I want to thank the Ard Comhairle for affording me the time on your very busy conference schedule to address you on behalf of my own Union and the wider trade union movement. We were glad to accept your kind invitation as it is our policy to engage with every Democratic Party and with all who are committed to bringing about a better life for all the people who live in Ireland.
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MUSICIANS PROTEST AT TOMMY FLEMING CONCERT IN KILKENNY
05.03.2010Members of the Musicians Union of Ireland (MUI) are to hold a protest at the Watergate Theatre in Kilkenny where singer Tommy Fleming is performing. The protest follows the refusal by Tommy Fleming and his company, TF Productions, to pay fees owed to a musician whom he contracted to perform with him last year. Earlier this year, the Labour Court ruled that TF Productions owed €4,600 to the musician after she was told just hours before she was due to go on a three month tour with Tommy Fleming in 2009 that she was no longer required.
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PENSION FRAMEWORK DOES NOT MEET NEEDS OF WORKING PEOPLE
05.03.2010The National Pensions Framework announced by Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Hanafin, on Wednesday does not serve the interests of working people. The main elements of the policy are set out below, leading to the conclusion that the Government has side-stepped its responsibility to ensure an adequate income for all citizens in retirement while increasing the strain on the finances and well-being of many. The Government's plan seeks to maintain the value of the State pension at 35% of average earnings. This is inadequate in the view of SIPTU and Congress. Increasing the rate to 50%, rising progressively to 66% would be more appropriate as it would provide an acceptable basic standard of living for everyone.
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Joint statement on behalf of Green Isle Foods Limited and the TEEU re: Industrial Relations Dispute
04.03.2010Green Isle Foods Limited, a major employer in Co Kildare, and the TEEU (Technical Engineering and Electrical Union) are pleased to confirm that the mediation process to resolve the industrial dispute at the company’s manufacturing site in Naas has been concluded, with both parties agreeing to be bound by the proposals put forward by the independent mediators.
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SIPTU describes Government’s Pension policy as “worse than expected”
03.03.2010SIPTU’s General President, Jack O’Connor, this evening described the Government’s policy on Pensions, which was announced earlier today, as “worse than expected”.
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Third hunger striker in Green Isle Foods has not had his work visa renewed
03.03.2010John Recto, who joined the Green Isle Foods hunger strike today (Wednesday 3rd March) had to call to Naas Garda Station this morning, where he was informed that his work visa has not been renewed. He was told he has until 8th March to leave the country. He is from the Philippines and has been working at Green Isle Foods for the past three years.
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History of Green Isle Foods Dispute
03.03.2010Workers in Green Isle Foods have embarked on a course of action not seen in Ireland for many years. They have been left on the picket line for six months by their employer and the parent company, Northern Foods in Britain.
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Fingal expected to join local authorities calling on Green Isle Foods to accept Labour Court Recommendation to end dispute and hunger strike
02.03.2010Dublin City Council unanimously adopted a motion last night expressing its support for the workers at the Green Isle Foods plant in Naas, Co Kildare, and calling on the company to ‘reinstate the men immediately and to engage with the Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union, which represents the men, to resolve the dispute’. It was proposed by the Sinn Fein group.
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ICTU President tells Green Isle Foods rally dispute is about people’s rights at work
27.02.2010The President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Jack O’Connor, told a rally in support of the Green Isle Foods workers and hunger strikers today in Naas that all 850,000 union members on the island of Ireland and the seven million trade unionists in Britain would be made aware of the findings of the Labour Court investigation into the real issues in dispute at the plant. This would allow them to make an informed decision when exercising their preferences as consumers with regard to Green Isle Foods products and those of its parent company Northern Foods.
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Naas Rally to support Green Isle Foods workers and hunger strikers tomorrow in Naas
26.02.2010There will be a Rally in support of the Green Isle Foods workers and hunger strikers in Naas tomorrow (Saturday, February, 27), organised by the Kildare Council of Trade Unions.
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Jack O’Connor, General President of SIPTU, calls on members to support Naas Rally on Saturday for Green Isle Foods’ workers and hunger strikers
25.02.2010SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor, who is also President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, has called on union members to support the Naas rally on Saturday in solidarity with the Green Isle Foods workers. He says the men on hunger strike are following in the footsteps of a forgotten hero of the 1913 Lockout.
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JACK O’CONNOR SAYS TIME RUNNING OUT FOR SETTLEMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE DISPUTE
23.02.2010Speaking in Galway on Tuesday (23rd February) Congress President, Jack O’ Connor, said that time was running out for a negotiated solution to the current industrial action involving 300,000 public service workers.
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Green Isle Foods – former All-Ireland footballer to join Hunger Strike tomorrow
23.02.2010Former All-Ireland footballer John Guinan will be joining Jim Wyse on hunger strike outside the Green Isle Foods plant in Naas, County Kildare tomorrow.
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Green Isle Foods Hunger Strike - Press Conference in Naas on Wednesday at 2pm
23.02.2010A press conference will be held in Naas, County Kildare tomorrow (Wednesday, February 24th) at 2.00pm by the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union over the Green Isle Foods dispute.
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TEEU shop steward says he will continue strike until Green Isle Foods propose reasonable settlement
21.02.2010“I felt the dismissals were wrong from the start and I think everyone picketing there right now feels it was wrong. It was unjust”, Jim Wyse the shop steward at Green Isle Foods said at a press conference today in Dublin to explain why he has gone on hunger strike. One of his colleagues is due to join him next Wednesday, if there is no resolution to the dispute. Another will join in each week that the dispute continues.
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Green Isle Foods Hunger Strike - Press Conference 12 noon Sunday
19.02.2010The Technical Engineering and Electrical Union is holding a press conference at its headquarters in 6 Gardiner Row, Dublin 1, at 12 noon on Sunday, February 21st, on the Green Isle Foods dispute.
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SIPTU OPPOSED TO NEW TAXI EXAM REQUIREMENTS
18.02.2010Taxi drivers who are members of SIPTU have expressed concern at some of the requirements proposed by the Commission for Taxi Regulation whereby existing licence holders will have to sit the new Small Public Service Vehicle (SPSV) examination.
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DUBLIN PORT DISPUTE RESOLVED
18.02.2010The Dublin Port dispute has been resolved by negotiation, the parties involved announced today.
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SIPTU JOB CREATION PROPOSAL BLOCKED BY GOVERNMENT
18.02.2010The Government has blocked proposals made by SIPTU to FÁS that would allow its members to take unpaid leave (12 weeks) this summer to care for their children and would also permit currently unemployed people to do this work at no additional cost to the State.
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SIPTU outrage at €5.8m Council spend on private contractors
17.02.2010SIPTU has reacted with outrage at the revelation that Kerry County Council paid €5.8 million to private contractors last year while many of the Council’s own workforce were on lay off.
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Dublin Port talks ongoing: ‘settlement within reach’
17.02.2010MTL, SIPTU and the ITF today confirmed that talks to resolve the Dublin port dispute are continuing and the three parties are hopeful of a successful resolution. A spokesman for MTL said: “Reports of renewed industrial action are premature. We have been actively engaged in constructive, ongoing talks with the ITF for several days and these are continuing in an effort to reach an amicable and sustainable resolution.”
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TEEU shop steward Jim Wyse says tomorrow’s hunger strike at Green Isle Foods will continue until six months dispute ends
16.02.2010The Technical Engineering and Electrical Union shop steward Jim Wyse, who is to go on hunger strike from noon tomorrow (Wednesday, February 17th) outside the Green Isle Foods plant in Naas said the protest will continue until the six months old dispute is resolved. “They told staff inside that we could stay out here until we rot, and they obviously meant it”, he said. “We mean what we say too.
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TEEU shop steward to begin hunger strike on Wednesday in protest at refusal of Green Isle Foods to engage in talks to end six months lockout
15.02.2010TEEU shop steward Jim Wyse is to go on hunger strike on Wednesday (February 17th) in protest at the continued refusal of Green Isle Foods to accept Labour Court recommendations for the settlement of a six months long dispute over the dismissal of union members. If the company continues its policy of refusing to accept the Court’s recommendations or engage in talks with the TEEU, then a second TEEU member will join the hunger strike on February 24th, followed by another worker each Wednesday for as long as the strike continues.
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ITF warned Government last year that lack of adequate controls in fishing industry would lead to injuries and loss of life
14.02.2010It is with great sadness that the International Transport Workers Federation has learnt of the death of yet another seafarer in Irish waters. It is long past time for the Irish authorities to address the problems posed by large numbers of non-EU nationals now crewing much of the Irish fishing fleet, ITF inspector Ken Fleming of SIPTU said today.
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SIPTU not consulted over change to North-East Ambulance Service
12.02.2010SIPTU has complained to management in the Health Service Executive (HSE) in the North East that there has been no consultation with recently announced changes in the work of its members in the ambulance services.
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UNIONS CALL FOR LRC TALKS ON COMMUNITY PROJECT CLOSURES
11.02.2010SIPTU and IMPACT have called on the Government to enter direct talks at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) concerning the recent closure of 14 Community Development Projects (CDP’S).
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Mass meeting of public servants planned for Galway on 23rd February
10.02.2010A mass meeting of public servants from the health, education and local government sectors will take place at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT), Renmore Road, Galway at 7.30pm on Tuesday 23rd February 2010.
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SIPTU LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT LOW PAID WORKERS
10.02.2010SIPTU Divisional Organiser, Patricia King, has warned the Government and employers that cutting the pay and conditions of workers on minimum wage rates will only worsen the economic situation and make life intolerable for over 300,000 people in sectors such as agriculture, catering, contract cleaning, hairdressing, hotels, retailing and the security industry.
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SIPTU PROTEST AT GALWAY CO. COUNCIL OVER COMPANYS’ REFUSAL TO PAY WAGES
09.02.2010SIPTU members at Oliver Donlon Developments Ltd/Clarehill Planthire will hold a protest outside the offices of Galway County Council tomorrow (Wednesday 10th February) at 9.00 a.m. as part of their ongoing campaign to secure wages owed to them by the Mullingar based construction company.
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SIPTU DEFENDS LOWEST PAID - ATTACKS PAY CUTS AGENDA
08.02.2010SIPTU Divisional Organiser, Patricia King, will launch a campaign against the Government’s plans to reduce the incomes of the lowest paid workers in the State at a press conference at 12.00 noon in Liberty Hall on Wednesday (10th February). Along with Union representatives and workers in low wage sectors, Patricia King will also formally launch a new SIPTU publication, “Government Targets the Lowest Paid” which highlights the attempts by Government and employers to enforce pay cuts across the economy.
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JOINT PRESS STATEMENT BY SIPTU AND UNITE TRADE UNIONS AT CADBURY IRELAND
05.02.2010“We wish to express our disappointment at statements made by members of the opposition, and the responses given in the Dáil by the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan, with regard to the future of Irish jobs as a result of the recent Kraft takeover of Cadbury’s.
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SIPTU members at Bitech angry at Glen Dimplex decision to close Dunleer factory
05.02.2010SIPTU members at Bitech Engineering, Dunleer, County Louth, have reacted angrily at the decision of its parent company, Glen Dimplex, to announce the closure of the factory with the loss of over 200 jobs.
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Tribute to Tomas MacGiolla by SIPTU President Jack O’Connor
04.02.2010The General President of SIPTU, Jack O’Connor, said this evening that he was deeply saddened to hear of the death of the former Workers’ Party President Tomas Mac Giolla. “He was a fearless champion of the interests of working people and the oppressed everywhere”, Mr O’Connor said. “Tomas MacGiolla was a dedicated revolutionary socialist who pursued the objectives of social justice and equality regardless of the consequences for himself.“
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Bon Secours dispute goes to Labour Relations Commission
04.02.2010Talks will commence today at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) in an effort to resolve a dispute at the Bon Secours Hospital group over unilaterally enforced pay cuts and job security.
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Pressing Ahead with the Pay Cutting Agenda
03.02.2010Now they have slashed public sector pay by 14 per cent, the Government and certain employers are pressing ahead with the real agenda – cutting the pay of workers across the entire economy.
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Strike averted at Mater Private Hospital Group
31.01.2010The strike at the Mater Private Hospital Group in Dublin and Limerick has been averted following talks at the Labour Relations Commission this afternoon. It was due to begin tomorrow morning.
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Pickets lifted at Royal Hospital Donnybrook
30.01.2010SIPTU has lifted its pickets at the Royal Hospital, Donnybrook in Dublin pending talks at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) on Monday (1st February).
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Government policy is putting jobs at risk in Taoiseach’s own constituency
29.01.2010Government policy is providing incentives for meat producers to shed jobs and the latest threat is posed to a Meadow Meats in Rathdowney, Co Laois, in Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s own constituency. Meadow Meats is threatening to close the plant unless workers agree to rates just above the national minimum wage. SIPTU and Dawn Meats, which owns Meadow Meats, met several times in recent months to discuss new pay rates, but the union disputes the need for such drastic cuts, as Dawn Meats continues to make significant profits.
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Government policy is putting jobs at risk in Taoiseach’s own constituency
29.01.2010Government policy is providing incentives for meat producers to shed jobs and the latest threat is posed to a Meadow Meats in Rathdowney, Co. Laois, in Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s own constituency.
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QK Meats closes in Naas after workers reject 50% pay cut
28.01.2010QK Meats, based in Naas Co. Kildare, has informed its workers that it is to cease production tomorrow (Friday, 29th January). The closure will result in the loss of 90 jobs. There have been some offers of redeployment within the wider Queally group, but SIPTU, which represents the workers, believes the opportunities are limited.
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LRC INVITES PARTIES TO TALKS OVER DISPUTE AT MATER PRIVATE HOSPITAL
28.01.2010Talks between the INMO, SIPTU and Mater Private Hospital Management will commence at the Labour Relations Commission tomorrow (Friday 29th January) in an effort to resolve the dispute in respect of pay cuts of 5-10% imposed on staff without their consent.
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SIPTU MEMBERS STRIKE AT ROYAL HOSPITAL DONNYBROOK
28.01.2010SIPTU members at the Royal Hospital, Donnybrook are to commence an all out strike on Friday (29th January) in protest at the outsourcing of jobs. The voluntary hospital, which is funded by the Department of Health and the Health Services Executive (HSE), has outsourced the jobs of a laundry operator and a porter to a private contractor, Spring Grove Services Ltd.
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SIPTU accepts DAA cost recovery programme
26.01.2010SIPTU members at the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) have voted by two to one to support the Cost Recovery Programme (CRP) agreed after months of discussions with their Union representatives.
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SIPTU serves strike/industrial action notice on Kingspan
25.01.2010SIPTU has served notice of strike/industrial action on Kingspan Building Products in Kingscourt, county Cavan as a result of the company unilaterally implementing a Labour Court recommendation overwhelmingly rejected by its members.
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SIPTU health workers protest outside VHI today from 1pm to 2pm
25.01.2010SIPTU’s Dublin Health Services Branch is picketing the VHI headquarters in Abbey Street, Dublin, today (Monday, January 25th) from 1pm to 2pm as part of its campaign to reverse pay cuts in the private hospital sector.
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Government’s ‘Yellow Pack’ approach to university research staff will lead to brain drain, not knowledge economy
22.01.2010The Government has been accused of adopting a ‘Yellow Pack’ approach towards 2,000 highly qualified research staff at Irish universities who are expected to produce a ‘knowledge economy’ on the basis of short term contracts and low pay. SIPTU Education Branch Organiser Chris Rowland said today that, “The Irish Government policy of creating a ‘Knowledge Economy’ is seriously undermined by its ‘Yellow Pack’ attitude towards talented young researchers. They are expected to compete with the world’s best while denied any security of employment.
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SIPTU and UNITE seek assurances on Cadbury's jobs
21.01.2010Members of the SIPTU and UNITE trade unions at the Cadbury’s plant in Coolock in north Dublin have sought assurances about their jobs following the €13.6 billion (£11.6 billion) takeover by US food giant, Kraft.
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SIPTU AND INMO PROTEST AT MATER PRIVATE
20.01.2010Members of SIPTU and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) at Dublin’s Mater Private Hospital protested (Wednesday 20th January) against unilateral, and illegal, pay cuts of 5% to 7.5% imposed by management. Several dozen health workers held an hour long protest at lunch-time which was also attended by officials from both unions including the general secretary of SIPTU, Joe O’Flynn, and the general secretary of the INMO, Liam Doran.
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ICTU to study EU police trade unions
19.01.2010Following a request by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) is to explore aspects of police affiliation to the trade union movement in the context of the European Union with a view to their possible application to the Irish situation.
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SIPTU AND INMO PROTEST AT MATER PRIVATE HOSPITAL
19.01.2010Members of SIPTU and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) will hold a protest at the Mater Private hospital on Eccles Street, Dublin from 1.00 p.m. until 2.00 p.m. tomorrow (20th January). The joint Union action is in protest at unilateral 5% to 7.5% pay cuts imposed on staff by the hospital management.
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SIPTU and INMO serve Strike Notice on Mater Private Hospital
18.01.2010SIPTU and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Union (INMO) have served strike notice on the Mater Private Hospital following the unilateral decision by management to impose pay cuts of 5% to 7.5% on staff salaries. Strike action will commence on Monday, 1st February.
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SIPTU VICE-PRESIDENT APPOINTED AS DEPUTY CHAIR OF LABOUR COURT
15.01.2010SIPTU Vice President, Brendan Hayes, has been appointed by the Government as a deputy chairman of the Labour Court. Announcing the appointment the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Dara Calleary said; "Brendan Hayes will bring a wealth of experience to the Labour Court given his extensive industrial relations experience and his previous service for over thirty years as a trade union official.
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SIPTU COMMUNITY SECTOR TO ESCALATE RESISTANCE TO CUTS
14.01.2010SIPTU industrial and organising staff members representing workers in the community and voluntary sector have vowed to continue, and escalate, their campaign of resistance to pay cuts and reduced Government funding.
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NO SALT-BIG FREEZE
08.01.2010Thousands of SIPTU members in local authorities across the country worked night and day over the past week to clear ice and snow from the country's roads and thoroughfares. A shortage of salt for gritting roads has left tens of thousands of secondary roads and estates in treacherous conditions following persistent falls of snow, rain and sleet. The east coast, and Dublin in particular, came to a virtual standstill earlier this week when buses were forced off the roads and cars were unable to cope with heavy ice.
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€10,000 CONCERT PROCEEDS HANDED OVER FOR FLOOD VICTIMS
05.01.2010The proceeds of the SIPTU centenary celebration concert held last month in Liberty Hall were given to members of the union’s Ballinasloe branch committee at a function in the town just before Christmas. The €10,000 raised will be dispersed to hard pressed victims of recent floods in the area including former SIPTU members. A fund was raised at the 7th December concert where performers included singers and musicians Christy Moore, Karan Casey and Niall Vallely, Jinx Lennon and Paula Flynn, Brendan Devereux and Eric Fleming. Poets Paula Meehan and Theo Dorgan also entertained the capacity crowd.
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AGSI deplores Pay Increases awarded to Higher Public Servants
04.01.2010The General Secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors has condemned the decision of the Government to ‘sneak in’ de facto increases in basic pensionable pay for senior civil servants and others in the higher echelons of the Public Sector, including senior gardaí at deputy and assistant commissioner level.
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