Workers organise themselves into SIPTU to use their individual and collective voice to ensure respect and dignity in the workplace. They also do so in order to create a work environment that is safe and healthy, while also ensuring pay transparency.
In a unionised workplace pay and benefits are negotiated and clearly set out. Members vote on proposals and changes rather than being at the whim of management where individual worker pay is decided in secrecy and open to management favouritism. The result of a lack of worker engagement compounds the influence and power between a worker and their manager.
Having a SIPTU trained Shop Steward will ensure adherence to the suite of policies which are in place. A Shop Steward will enforce fairness regarding discipline and ensure protection for union members. Without a union it is just you, on your own. A union representative will also provide practical assistance in raising and solving problems with management at local level and making the judgement as to when the situation needs to be escalated.
Health and Safety is one of the most important elements of any workplace. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 provides that workers are entitled to elect a colleague as a worker safety representative. It is common practice in non-unionised sites that this provision is side stepped by management having a covert process that places a manager into the role of Worker Health and Safety Representative. This action fails to provide any knowledge or opportunity for this position to be filled by a fellow worker, as is your entitlement, through a fair and transparent process. Health and Safety Representative should serve a term of three years.