Joe O’Flynn was elected to the position of General Secretary of SIPTU in 2002. On his appointment O’Flynn committed himself to working with the Union's members, activists and staff to make SIPTU a dynamic organisation that will defend and promote the rights of workers throughout the island of Ireland.

He joined the Union as an apprentice mechanic at the age of 16 and soon after became a shop steward. Since he was first appointed a full-time official at the age of 22, he has gained considerable and widespread experience representing workers in both the public and private sector.

O’Flynn has served the Union as an industrial official, Branch Secretary, National Industrial Secretary and Regional Secretary. He has been an active member of the Labour Party since he was a teenager and was elected Lord Mayor of Cork in 1998-99.

Elected Treasurer on the Executive Council of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in 2003, O’Flynn is also a Director of three SIPTU-affiliated bodies - the IDEAS Institute, the Irish Trade Union Trust and the Liberty Hall Centre for the Performing Arts.