Media

Press Releases 2021

SIPTU seek firm commitment from Minister to stop the sale of community job activation services

15 April 2021

SIPTU representatives have today (Thursday, 15th April) written to the Minister of State with responsibility for Social Inclusion in the Department of Social Protection, Joe O’Brien, seeking a firm commitment to support the campaign to halt government plans to privatise community job activation services.
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SIPTU says government economic projections will undermine future growth prospects

14 April 2021

SIPTU economist, Michael Taft, has said that the projections in the Stability Programme Update (SPU) of continued ‘low-tax, low-spend’ policies by the Government will undermine the future growth prospects of the economy. The SPU was published by the Department of Finance today (14th April) and sets out a range of economic policies to be pursued by the Government over the coming years.
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SIPTU calls on agriculture minister to respond to meat industry revelations

11 April 2021

SIPTU members are not surprised by detailed revelations in the Irish Mail on Sunday (IMOS) of illegal work practices in the meat processing industry. An investigation published in the newspaper today alleges that some vulnerable workers are forced to secure fake identities from criminal forgers in order to gain employment in meat plants and are the victims of ‘a modern form of slavery’.
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RTE trade union group says pay proposals ‘now off the table’

07 April 2021

In a statement today, the Trade Union Group (TUG) said: “The RTÉ Trade Union Group notes the result of the ballot on the proposed RTÉ/TUG Stability Agreement with 87% against and 13% in favour.
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Rights4Riders Global Day of Action

07 April 2021

SIPTU representatives are today (Wednesday, 7th April) hosting an online political rally at 4.00 p.m. on Facebook about the Union’s concerns in relation to worker rights, safety and pay for delivery and platform workers.
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SIPTU representatives demand vaccine parity and rapid testing for Early Years educators

07 April 2021

SIPTU representatives have today (Wednesday, 7th April) called on the Government to ensure that Early Years educators are treated on the same basis as teachers and other education workers in relation to the vaccine rollout.
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SIPTU members win significant Workplace Relations Commission case over unpaid wages

06 April 2021

A major manufacturing company based in county Limerick has been found to have made unlawful deductions from the pay of some of its workers by the Workplace Relations Commission. The case, involving 48 SIPTU members, arose following a cut in wages for workers put on short-time working by the company in 2019.
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SIPTU representatives demand fair play and representation for all FAI workers

03 April 2021

SIPTU members working for the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) have today (Saturday, 3rd April) said they are extremely disappointed and frustrated over the lack of engagement with management over many workplace issues holding back the organisation.
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SIPTU representatives demand Covid-19 stakeholder forum for local authorities is established without delay

31 March 2021

SIPTU representatives have today (Wednesday, 31st March) written to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien to demand that a Covid-19 stakeholder forum for local authorities be established and convened without delay.
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SIPTU representatives call for stronger protections for Early Years Educators

31 March 2021

SIPTU representatives will today, (Wednesday, 31st March) raise the serious concerns of Early Years Educators over the Government’s new vaccination schedule at a high level meeting with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
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SIPTU members angered at enforced redundancies at Rehab Enterprises in Limerick

26 March 2021

SIPTU members have expressed anger at the decision by Rehab Enterprises in Limerick to make workers redundant without exploring alternative options at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
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SIPTU calls on Minister to release funds to end CE supervisor pension dispute

26 March 2021

SIPTU representatives have today (Friday, 26th March) called on the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, to release the funds necessary to settle the Community Employment supervisors pension dispute without delay or run the risk of another round of strike action.
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SIPTU criticises response from health minister regarding student radiographers

25 March 2021

SIPTU representatives have today (Thursday, 25th March) written to the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, criticising his refusal to meet student radiographers and expressing extreme disappointment over his lack of commitment to address any of the serious concerns over clinical placements during the pandemic.
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SIPTU says Minister must reverse market-driven approach to local development companies

24 March 2021

SIPTU members in the union’s Community Sector have today (Wednesday, 24th March) urged the Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, to reverse plans to privatise community and employment services including the Local Development Companies (LDCs) involved in job creation and support for the unemployed. The call follows a meeting of delegates at the sectors’ AGM held online today.
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SIPTU and Congress seek government help to protect workers in Rehab Enterprises in Limerick

16 March 2021

SIPTU and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions have sent an urgent request to the Government in relation to the future of workers who are facing redundancy at Rehab Enterprises in Limerick.
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SIPTU welcomes withdrawal of redundancy notices by OCS Ltd. at Cork Airport

12 March 2021

SIPTU representatives have welcomed the decision by OCS Ltd to withdraw notices of compulsory redundancy served on three union members at Cork Airport.
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SIPTU welcomes Minister's recommendation for childcare pay mechanism

12 March 2021

SIPTU representatives have today (Friday, 12th March) welcomed a recommendation by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O'Gorman, that a Joint Labour Committee (JLC) for the early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) sector will be established.
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Irish Equity seeks meeting with Fine Gael leadership following voiceover debacle

12 March 2021

Members of Irish Equity have today (Friday, 12th March) written to the chairperson of Fine Gael requesting an urgent meeting with the party leadership following media reports that the party has posted a series of ill-judged requests across social media aimed at Irish film, television and radio workers.
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SIPTU Education members call on Minister to 'get real' on crisis in third level education

11 March 2021

SIPTU members across the Education Sector have today (Thursday, 11th March) said that, unless the crisis in third level funding is addressed, all the problems that have continuously plagued the sector will continue to persist.
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SIPTU says local authority workers prepared to take strike action over any forced transfer to Irish Water

10 March 2021

SIPTU members working in county and city councils across the country have today (Wednesday, 10th March) put the Government on notice that, if water service workers are forcibly transferred into Irish Water, thousands of local authority workers are fully prepared to take swift and immediate strike action.
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SIPTU says raising age will make no significant contribution to cost of State pension scheme

10 March 2021

SIPTU has said that increasing the pension age will make no significant contribution to the cost of the State pension scheme. It has also called for a ‘statutory right to remain’ to allow employees to stay in their jobs up to and beyond the pension age and for fair treatment of carers and workers in arduous jobs.
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Musicians union welcomes €50 million funding for Live Performance sector

10 March 2021

The Musicians Union of Ireland (MUI) has welcomed the Government’s announcement of €50 million in measures to support the Live Performance sector.
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Construction trade unions and employers sign safety at work protocol for sites

09 March 2021

The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) and the Trade Union Federation (TUF) today signed a Return to Work Safety Protocol at a Collen Construction site in Haymarket, Dublin. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the site has been closed since 8th January last.
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SIPTU Young Workers Network opposed to pension age increase

09 March 2021

The SIPTU Young Workers’ Network has today (Tuesday 9th, March) made a submission to the Commission on Pensions which calls for the state pension age not to be increased.
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SIPTU welcomes co-operation agreement with IFUT at DCU

05 March 2021

A new co-operation agreement has been reached today between DCU, SIPTU and IFUT on collective representational rights on behalf of the members of both unions in the university.
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SIPTU says EU Directive on pay transparency won’t deliver real change for women workers

04 March 2021

SIPTU representatives have said that the draft EU Directive on pay transparency, published today (Thursday, 4th March), will effectively lock women into a state of permanent pay inequality.
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SIPTU members working in the Bon Secours Health System to ballot for strike action

03 March 2021

SIPTU members working in the Bon Secours Health System are to commence a national ballot for industrial action, up to and including strike action, in an effort to secure a job evaluation process for up to 500 support grade workers.
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SIPTU criticises refusal by services company OCS (Ireland) to attend WRC

03 March 2021

SIPTU members at Cork airport have criticised the refusal of OCS (Ireland) Ltd. to accept an invitation to attend the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) regarding the decision by the company to make three workers compulsorily redundant.
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SIPTU members at Aer Lingus in Shannon Airport devastated by lay-offs

01 March 2021

SIPTU members in Aer Lingus employed at Shannon Airport are devastated by the news that they will be placed on temporary lay-off for a three month period from 8th March.
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SIPTU signs recognition agreement with Irish Management Institute

01 March 2021

SIPTU has today (Monday, 1st March) signed a recognition agreement with the Irish Management Institute (IMI). The collective agreement affords SIPTU exclusive representational rights on behalf of staff in IMI. The staff in IMI joined SIPTU last year and following a long campaign, the Institute has acknowledged their right to be represented by a trade union.
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SIPTU members shocked at Bank of Ireland closures announcement

01 March 2021

SIPTU members were shocked to hear this morning that Bank of Ireland has announced the closure of 103 branches in its branch network, including 15 in the North and 88 in Republic of Ireland.
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SIPTU members in Camphill Community in Wexford vote for strike action

26 February 2021

SIPTU members in working in Camphill Communities, Duffcarrig, county Wexford have voted unanimously in favour of industrial action in a dispute over funding and working conditions.
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New Global Union Report: Pandemic places long-term care work among world’s most dangerous jobs

25 February 2021

UNI Global Union, which represents 2 million care workers worldwide, today said the COVID-19 pandemic has made nursing homes some of the most hazardous—and even deadly—workplaces in the world.
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SIPTU tells Minister that its local authority members will not be forced into Irish Water

23 February 2021

SIPTU representatives explained that union members will not accept any attempt to force the transfer from their employment with local authorities to Irish Water, during a meeting today with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien.
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SIPTU members in Ulster Bank seek assurances on any transfer of business

19 February 2021

SIPTU members in Ulster Bank, who learned today that it is to close its doors after 160 years of trading, are seeking assurances about their future.
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Workers welcome successful conclusion of their industrial action at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

18 February 2021

Management commits to address all workforce concerns in comprehensive agreement to end dispute. Any council worker who loses out in the management-trade union led job evaluation process will receive between £500 and £7,500 in compensation.
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Rehab Enterprises workers in Limerick face redundancy on significantly reduced terms

18 February 2021

SIPTU members in Rehab Enterprises in Limerick have been informed that they face redundancy on significantly reduced terms, after decades of service.
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SIPTU members support Public Service Agreement by overwhelming majority

11 February 2021

SIPTU members in the public service have voted by a resounding majority to accept the proposals in Building Momentum, a New Public Service Agreement.
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SIPTU Health members incensed at omission from Oireachtas Health Committee

09 February 2021

SIPTU members were incensed by the omission of SIPTU Health representatives from the Oireachtas Health Committee today (Tuesday, 9th February) where the situation of Covid-19 frontline health workers was discussed and debated.
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SIPTU criticises Leo Varadkar for undermining rights of workers in Ireland

08 February 2021

SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Gerry McCormack, has criticised the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar, for co-signing a letter which undermines the right of workers in Ireland to collective bargaining.
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SIPTU disappointment at inadequate payment for workers forced to retire

08 February 2021

SIPTU members have expressed their deep disappointment at the introduction of a new benefit payment for people forced to retire at 65.
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SIPTU seeks emergency meeting with health minister over clinical placements for student radiographers

05 February 2021

SIPTU representatives have today (Friday, 5th February) written to the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, seeking an emergency meeting in order to address serious concerns and challenges raised by student radiographers on clinical placement during the pandemic.
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Early Years Sector to organise Virtual Day of Action

04 February 2021

Early Years Educators, providers and parents will take part in a Virtual Day of Action on Friday, 5th February, 2021 to highlight the ongoing crisis of low pay and funding in the early years, childcare sector.
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SIPTU members shocked at shut-down of Wilker plant in Offaly

04 February 2021

SIPTU members at Wilker Auto Conversions in Clara Co. Offlay, have expressed their shock and concern at the announcement of a three week shut-down of the production plant in Clara, county Offaly.
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RTÉ trade unions to ballot on restructuring proposals

03 February 2021

The RTÉ Trade Union Group (TUG) has today (Wednesday, 3rd February) concluded negotiations on proposed temporary alterations to terms and conditions of employment. The proposals include changes to benefits, including pay reductions and a voluntary exit package.
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Clinical placements for student nurses and midwives suspended until 8th February

28 January 2021

SIPTU representatives and nursing unions were informed tonight (Thursday, 28th January) that clinical placements for first, second and third year student nurses and midwives are to be suspended until at least Monday 8th February and are likely return on a phased basis.
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SIPTU study shows poverty pay driving workers out of childcare

27 January 2021

The annual SIPTU Early Years Professionals’ survey has found that 43% of child care workers are actively seeking another job due to low pay levels in the sector.
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SIPTU demands transparency in vaccine sequencing programme

26 January 2021

SIPTU representatives have today (26th, January) demanded that the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, commits to publishing regular progress reports of the Covid-19 vaccine sequencing programme across the health service.
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SIPTU says government must address recurring Covid-19 outbreaks in meat processing plants

26 January 2021

Following reports of two more significant Covid-19 clusters in Cork and Wexford, with more than 100 workers testing positive for the virus, SIPTU Manufacturing Division Organiser, Greg Ennis, has called on the Government to act immediately on the recommendations of the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 for the Meat Industry. He also questioned the accuracy of the numbers of infections among its workers which have been disclosed by the industry over the last ten months.
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SIPTU says future sustainability of the childcare workforce is under threat

22 January 2021

SIPTU representatives have today (Friday 22nd, January) expressed grave concerns for the future of the childcare sector as thousands of Early Years Educators are forced to draw down the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).
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SIPTU calls for real solutions not gimmicks to resolve domestic waste issues in Dublin

19 January 2021

SIPTU representatives have labelled an offer of a €50,000 prize by Dublin City Council for ‘innovative solutions’ for on street storage of domestic waste as a gimmick and a waste of public funds.
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SIPTU says lack of consultation to suspend student placements will deepen crisis in health service

17 January 2021

SIPTU representatives have today (Sunday, 17th January) said the lack of consultation surrounding the decision by health minister, Stephen Donnelly, to suspend student placements will only deepen the serious crisis in the health service.
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SIPTU says safe functioning of the health service in grave danger

15 January 2021

SIPTU Health representatives have today (Friday, 15th January) said the Covid-19 infection rates of health care workers are unsustainable and putting the safe functioning of the health service in grave danger.
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SIPTU calls on government to avert closure of Waterford Area Partnership

14 January 2021

SIPTU representatives have called on the Government to intervene in order to save the Waterford Area Partnership (WAP) following the publication of a report earlier this week which suggested that the organisation was “not viable” due to governance and financial issues. The review of WAP was carried out by Crowe Howarth consultants on behalf of the government funding body, POBAL.
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SIPTU calls on government to avert closure of Waterford Area Partnership

14 January 2021

SIPTU calls on all employers to facilitate working from home

14 January 2021

SIPTU representatives have called on all employers, in both the private and public sector, to listen to the advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) for Covid-19, and ensure that wherever possible they should facilitate employees to work from home.
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SIPTU concerned about delays for ambulances at emergency departments

12 January 2021

SIPTU representatives have expressed concern that issues of bed capacity and overcrowding in hospital emergency departments (EDs) will continue to affect the work of the National Ambulance Service. They have called on the HSE to immediately fast track the recruitment of thousands of additional staff as a matter of urgency in the fight against Covid-19.
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SIPTU says Minister for Health must act now to remove roadblocks to health service recruitment

08 January 2021

SIPTU representatives have today (Friday, 8th January) urged the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, to immediately intervene and remove any roadblocks to health service recruitment as part of an emergency effort to address the unsustainable staffing crisis that is spreading right across the health service.
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SIPTU calls for childcare services to be strictly limited to essential frontline workers

08 January 2021

SIPTU representatives have today (Friday, 8th January) called on the Government to strictly limit childcare services to only the families of essential frontline workers and the most vulnerable children.
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SIPTU representatives demand tight monitoring of all construction sites open during lockdown

07 January 2021

SIPTU representatives in the construction sector are demanding that the Government guarantees that all construction sites which remain open during the current lockdown have all proper protections in place to prevent the transmission of Covid-19 among construction workers and their families.
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SIPTU calls for enhanced Covid-19 infection protections for Early Years educators

07 January 2021

SIPTU representatives have today (Thursday, 7th January) written to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Affairs, Roderic O’Gorman, reiterating the demand of our members working as Early Years educators, for enhanced protections against Covid-19 infection.
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Unions and employers call for intensification of efforts against Covid-19 in construction sector

05 January 2021

The Trade Union Federation (TUF) and the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), today (Tuesday, 5th January) have jointly called on employers and workers in the sector to intensify their efforts to prevent Covid-19 infections on building sites.
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Industrial action escalates at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

05 January 2021

Industrial action escalates at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council as mediated talks collapse after management refuse trade union proposal to end dispute
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SIPTU says more support needed for student nurses and midwives during pandemic

05 January 2021

SIPTU representatives have called for more support for student nurses and midwives than the recommendations outlined in a Short Term Review of Clinical Placement Allowances published yesterday (Monday, 4th January) by the Department of Health.
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SIPTU representatives call on NPHET to reassess risk of Covid-19 transmission in childcare facilities

05 January 2021

SIPTU representatives have called on the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) to reassess the risk to workers and children in childcare services in light of the new Covid-19 strains and spiralling infection rates.
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SIPTU calls for the fast tracking of recruitment for thousands of health care staff in the fight against COVID-19

04 January 2021

SIPTU representatives have called on the management of the Health Service Executive (HSE) to fast track the recruitment of thousands of additional staff as a matter of urgency in the fight against COVID-19.
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SIPTU Health representatives urge HSE to guarantee proper childcare supports for frontline workers

02 January 2021

SIPTU Health representatives have today (Saturday, 2nd January) called on the management of the Health Service Executive (HSE) to guarantee proper supports are immediately put in place to assist health workers with childcare commitments reporting for work when schools and pre-school services are closed across the country next week.
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SIPTU representatives demand equal treatment for all educators under new Level 5 restrictionsu

31 December 2020

SIPTU representatives have today (Thursday, 31st December) demanded that equal treatment is applied to all educators under new Level 5 restrictions.
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