News Archive

SIPTU representatives have today (Monday, 1st July) welcomed the launch of a report into the role of health care assistants (HCA) at the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin. Conducted by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in collaboration with union...

SIPTU representatives have today (Friday, 28thJune) confirmed that strikes in 38 selected hospitals planned for next week (2nd, 3rd and 4th July) have been deferred pending the outcomeofa full Labour Court hearing set for Wednesday, 3rdJuly on the...

SIPTU members who are cleaners at Cabinteely Community School in south Dublin have won a battle against the outsourcing of their jobs. Following industrial action by Union members, the Board of Management of the school has confirmed that it has reversed the...

SIPTU activists will be joining with members in other construction industry unions to protest outside the site of the new National Children’s Hospital in Dublin tomorrow morning (Friday, 28th June) from 6.30 a.m to highlight bogus self-employment in the...

SIPTU Health representatives have accepted an invitation to attend talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) tomorrow (Thursday, 27th June) at 10.30 a.m. to discuss the dispute involving 10,000 health service workers over the implementation of a...

SIPTU representatives have confirmed today (Monday, 24th June) that talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) aimed at resolving a dispute on job evaluation have concluded without an agreement. SIPTU Health Divisional Organiser, Paul Bell said:...

SIPTU representatives have tonight (Friday, 21st June) confirmed that a 24 hour strike planned for next Tuesday (25th June) has been deferred pending the outcome of talks on Monday (24th June) at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) aimed at resolving the...

The National Minimum Wage (Protection of Employee Bill Tips) Bill was passed following a vote of TDs in the Dáil today (Thursday, 20th June). The result of the vote was 75 in favour and 41 against, with Fine Gael and the majority of members of the...

SIPTU representatives have confirmed that a 24 hour workplace stoppage planned for tomorrow (Thursday, 20th June) has been deferred pending the outcome of emergency talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) on the implementation of a job evaluation...

SIPTU Meath District Council officers have today (Tuesday, 18th June) urged all local politicians to support the Protection of Employee Tips Bill. The call comes following an emergency meeting of the Meath District Council executive last night (Monday,...

SIPTUHealth representatives have tonight (Monday, 17th June) confirmed that talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) aimed at resolving a dispute on job evaluation have ended without agreement. SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell,...

SIPTU representatives have today (Tuesday, 17th June) said that any plans to introduce a new home care scheme must prioritise people over the profits of private care companies. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Marie Butler said: “Over recent days, it...

SIPTU representatives have demanded that any potential freeze on the allocation of new home help packages is avoided, and that no financial barrier is put in front of vulnerable people in need of home care support. Speaking to Liberty Secretary of the SIPTU...

SIPTU representatives have confirmed this evening (Thursday, 13th June) that talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) aimed at resolving a dispute on job evaluation have adjourned until Monday 17th June. SIPTU Health Divisional Organiser, Paul...

SIPTU Health representatives have today (Wednesday, 12th June) accepted an invitation to attend exploratory talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) tomorrow (Thursday, 13th June) at 2.30pm to discuss the dispute on job evaluation. The dispute has...

SIPTU members, working as cleaners, at Cabinteely Community School, Dublin, have today (10th, June) commenced the first in a series of work stoppages in a dispute over the proposed outsourcing of their work to a private contract cleaning...

The SIPTU Cavan District Council will today (Friday, 7th June) launch its new Welcome Centre and host a presentation event for long-serving union activists at the SIPTU offices on Ashe Street, Cavan. Among those who will address the event are SIPTU General...

SIPTU members working as support staff and chefs in 38 hospitals and health care facilities have today (Wednesday, 5th June) served notice of a 24 hour work stoppage on Thursday, 20th June, in a dispute concerning the failure to implement pay...

The SIPTU Big Start campaign has called for a focus on improving workers’ conditions and pay in order to resolve the escalating crisis in the childcare sector which is resulting in working parents being unable to find suitable facilities to care for young...

SIPTU activists will be supporting secondary school student groups in organising major rallies across the country during their strike for action on climate change, which is taking place on Friday, 24thMay. SIPTU Global Solidarity Campaign Secretary,...

SIPTU representatives have today (Wednesday, 22nd May) confirmed that a process for restoring the pay of thousands of Section 39 workers has commenced in health and social care facilities across the country. The move follows lengthy discussions under the...

SIPTU’s National Executive Council (NEC) is calling on union members to vote ‘Yes’ in the divorce referendum on Friday, 24thMay. In a statement today (22ndMay) the NEC said: “On Friday, 24thMay, the electorate will be asked to...

SIPTU members working as health service support staff have voted by 94% to 6% in favour of taking strike action in a dispute concerning the implementation of a job evaluation scheme. The result of vote was announced today (Friday, 17th May) at a special...

SIPTU representatives are seeking an urgent meeting with the senior management ofGSK following an announcement today (Thursday, 16thMay) that themulti-national pharmaceutical company has sold its manufacturing plant in Ringaskiddy, county Cork, to...

SIPTU representatives are seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, to discuss the threat to jobs in the FAI due to the precarious financial situation of the organisation. SIPTU Sport Sector...

SIPTU members in the construction industry have welcomed a pay increase and other improvements granted under a new Sector Employment Order (SEO) which was introduced by the Government in a ministerial order today. According to SIPTU Transport, Energy,...

Community Employment (CE) supervisors have suspended five days of strike action, which was scheduled [https://www.forsa.ie/ce-supervisors-to-take-strike-action/] to commence on Monday (13th May). The CE supervisors are represented by Fórsa and SIPTU trade...

SIPTU and Unite representatives will meet with the management of Mondelez Ireland early next week to discuss the announcement by the company that it is seeking to implement 70 job losses at its Cadbury production plant in Coolock, Dublin 5. SIPTU...

The South East launch of the ‘More Power To You’ campaign took place last night (7th May) in Kilkenny. The campaign supported by SIPTU, Fórsa and Connect trade unions is calling for increased funding and powers for local government. At a...

SIPTU members in the Coca-Cola manufacturing plant in Ballina, county Mayo, are to commence a ballot for industrial action, up to and including strike action, as part of their campaign to secure collective bargaining rights. SIPTU...

Community Employment (CE) supervisors will begin five days of strike action next Monday (13th May), across the country, following the failure of the Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, to agree to meet...

SIPTU, Fórsa and Connect Trade Union launched the ‘The More Power To You’ campaign, which calls for increased funding and powers for local government,in the north-west region at a meeting in Fish Quay in Sligo, county Sligo...

SIPTU representatives have today (Tuesday, 30th April) raised concerns that the formula used to determine safe staffing levels for the new National Children's Hospital could potentially lead to a shortfall of almost 400 nursing posts. SIPTU Health Division...

SIPTU members at the Boxmore Plastics Ltd. manufacturing plant in Ballyconnell, county Cavan are to take strike action on Wednesday 8th May due to the company’s refusal to deliver a pay increase as recommended by the Labour Court. This follows a vote by...

The Irish Veterinary Nursing Association (IVNA) has begun a process of affiliation with SIPTU following the signing of a service level agreement committing the two organisations to greater co-operation at an event in University College Dublin, this afternoon...

A documentary film, ‘The Bard of Drumcondra’, on the life and work of trade union banner maker, actor and political activist the late Jer O’Leary will be launched in Liberty Hall, Dublin 1, on Friday, 3rd May at...

SIPTU representatives have today (Wednesday, 24th April) confirmed that members working in Coca Cola are considering industrial action as part of a campaign to secure collective bargaining rights at a plant in Ballina, county Mayo. The dispute centres on...

The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and the Government have agreed enhanced protections for fishers which will see Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) inspectors boarding vessels to ensure the employment rights of workers are being respected. The...

Community Employment (CE) Supervisors announced, at a rally outsideDáil Éireann this morning (Tuesday, 16thApril), that they will strike for five days in Mayif the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, does not meet their...

Community Employment (CE) Supervisors who are members of SIPTU and Fórsa trade unions will hold a rally to highlight their dispute with the Government concerning its failure to implement a Labour Court recommendation in 2008 in relation to their right to...

SIPTU Health will begin balloting up to 17,000 members working as Health Care Assistants, Chefs, Laboratory Aides, Theatre Operatives and in other support grades including those working in catering, household, portering,...

While the publication of the long-awaited Gender Pay Gap Bill is welcome, SIPTU members continue to have concerns over important aspects of the proposed legislation, according to the union’s Head of Equality and Policy, Marie Sherlock....

SIPTU has demanded that the livelihoods of workers employed by the FAI are not used as a ‘political football’ in the worsening crisis in the Association resulting from the Sport Ireland decision to withhold funding for the organisation. SIPTU Sport Sector...

Members of the SIPTU Nursing and Midwives Sector Committee have today (Monday, 8th April) determined that a ballot on a proposed new nursing contract would be premature. SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said: “Following a meeting of...

SIPTU Health representatives have today (Thursday, 4thApril) demanded that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform allocate funds to implement the findings of a job evaluation scheme for up to 7000 support workers in hospitals across the country. The...

SIPTU has today (Wednesday, 3rd April) received the latest of two Labour Court recommendations aimed at resolving issues in dispute concerning nurses and midwives. SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said: “In the coming days we will be...

SIPTU organisers will be visiting Early Years care and education facilities across Westmeath on Tuesday, 9th April, as part of the union’s Big Start Campaign which is aimed at improving the childcare sector for workers, children and their...

A SIPTU representative has said that a major overhaul of how waste services are operated rather than investment in gimmicks such as aerial drones is the way to solve the growing problems concerning waste disposal in Ireland. SIPTU Public Administration and Community...

SIPTU representatives have today (Friday, 29th March) confirmed that more than 7,000 support grade staff will be balloted for strike action next month. The move follows a decision by the SIPTU Support Sector Committee at its Annual General Meeting in...

SIPTU activists will be joining with members in other construction industry unions to protest outside the Irish Construction Excellence awards which are being held in the Mansion House on Dawson Street, Dublin, this evening (Friday, 29th March) at...

SIPTU has warned that vulnerable children are being placed at increased risk due to severe cuts to Early Years services in areas of disadvantage across the country due to the imposition of substantial reductions in funding by the State agency POBAL. SIPTU Head of...

SIPTU has called for the National Minimum Wage (NMW) to be increased from €9.80 to €10.20 next year, as a stage towards the payment of a Living Wage for all workers, in a submission to the Low Pay Commission which was presented at a public...

Union representatives, including SIPTU organisers, have called on the building materials group CRH to fully comply with Irish and EU legalisation concerning the operation of European Works Councils at a conference in Dublin which concluded today...

The SIPTU Mayo District Council will launch its new Welcome Centre and host a presentation event for long-serving union activists at the SIPTU offices on Moneen Road, Castlebar on Thursday, 28th March, at 6.30 p.m. Among those who will address the...

Trade unions representing over 30,000 local council workers today (Wednesday, 27th March) launched a campaign for substantially increased revenue and funding powers for local authorities, and published research that shows Irish councils have less...

SIPTU Nursing representatives have today (Monday 25th March) presented their case in the Labour Court for a fair contract for all nurses and midwives. SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said: “SIPTU representatives put forward a robust...

SIPTU members employed by the FAI are demanding an explanation of why they had to endure pay cuts during a period when it is reported the organisation decided to begin paying the rent of its former CEO John Delaney. SIPTU Sport Sector Organiser, Denis...

SIPTU representatives have today called for better protections for all dock workers following the tragic death yesterday (Thursday, 21st March) of a young Latvian seafarer in Europort in Rosslare, county Wexford. SIPTU Ports, Docks and Harbour...

Over 100 Community Employment (CE)supervisors discussed an escalation in their industrial action aimed at forcing the Government to implement a Labour Court recommendation regarding their right to a pension, at a meeting in the Midlands Hotel in...

SIPTU representatives have informed management that its proposal to close a ward in University Hospital Limerick, without consultation with unions, will constitute a breach of the terms of the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA). SIPTU...

SIPTU representatives have confirmed that members working in the Education Sector will be supporting the #FundTheFuture protest tomorrow (Thursday, 21st March), in higher education campuses across the country. SIPTU Education Sector Organiser, Karl...

The ITF has called for the immediate payment of all monies due to them and assistance to return home for a group of Indonesian fishers who have been stranded in Dingle, County Kerry, since Monday, 11th March, when they left their vessel due to...

SIPTU members will be supporting the strike by school students and associated events across the country tomorrow (Friday, 15th March) as part of a global day of action by young people protesting at the lack of response by world leaders to tackling climate...

The National Executive Council of SIPTU has expressed its deep concern at the economic, political and social implications for workers in Ireland of a ‘no deal’, hard or disorganised Brexit. Following a meeting of the NEC at Liberty Hall,...

The threat by the British government of punitive tariffs on Irish products entering the UK in the event of a no deal Brexit, has been described as unacceptable by SIPTU deputy general secretary for the private sector, Gerry McCormack. Tens of thousands of...

Members of the SIPTU Nursing and Midwifery Sector Committee have today (Tuesday, 12th March) sought to refer proposals for the introduction of an enhanced Nursing and Midwifery contract to the Labour Court. Speaking after the lengthy meeting today in Liberty...

SIPTU members working in Liebherr Container Cranes Ltd. Killarney, Co Kerry have today (Tuesday, 12th March) confirmed that they have served notice of industrial action at the company. The decision comes following the result of a ballot held on...

SIPTU members in the Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) have today (Monday, 11th March) renewed their call for a full risk assessment of properties built or extended from approximately 2000 to 2014 due to the large number of fire safety issues discovered in a recent...

SIPTU Health Division representatives have confirmed that talks between unions and health service management on an enhanced nursing and midwifery contract, concluded last night (Sunday, 10th March) without agreement at the Workplace Relations Commission....

A major protest rally on the housing emergency is to take place at Cork City Hall on Monday, March 11. The rally will see trade unions, political parties, women’s groups, student unions, housing agencies and community groups join...

The SIPTU Education Sector has launched a campaign to fight precarious work in higher and further education following a meeting of workers from across the country to mark International Women’s Day in Liberty Hall, Dublin 1, today (Friday, 8th...

SIPTU representatives have today (Thursday, 7th March) called for the JobPath employment activation scheme to be brought to a swift end after it emerged that in some cases job seekers have gone through the process three times without success. SIPTU Sector...

The Musicians Union of Ireland (MUI) is calling on its members to attend a protest in support of the call for a boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest, to be held by Israel in 2019, which will take place outside of RTÉ Studios in Donnybrook,...

SIPTU representatives have today (Thursday, 7th March) called for the JobPath employment activation scheme to be brought to a swift end after it emerged that in some cases job seekers have gone through the process three times without success. SIPTU Sector...

The Big Start Campaign has released new research, to mark International Women’s Day tomorrow (Friday 8th March), showing that childcare, which has an overwhelmingly female workforce, is the lowest paid sector in the Irish economy. Early...

SIPTU members working in First Choice Credit Union in Ballyhaunis, Achill and Castlebar have today (Monday, 4th March) served notice of industrial action in a dispute concerning pay, travel time and other terms and conditions at the company. SIPTU...

SIPTU representatives have today (Monday, 4th March) confirmed members in construction are pursuing a 12% increase in pay over three years as part of a process in establishing a new Sectoral Employment Order (SEO) for the industry. SIPTU Sector Organiser,...

SIPTU nursing and midwifery members, working across acute hospital settings, will vote on a recent Labour Court recommendation once full details of a new contract for nurses and midwives is negotiated. The decision follows a meeting today (Friday,...

SIPTU representatives have stated that a ‘Graduate Outcome Survey’ published by the Higher Education Authority, today (Monday, 18th February), has revealed the extent of low pay and precarious work facing newly qualified graduates in the...

SIPTU members working in the Pfizer Plants in Ringaskiddy and Little Island in county Cork have today (13th February) agreed to attend a meeting of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in relation to proposed pension changes at the company. SIPTU Organiser,...

SIPTU members have voted to accept an agreement between union representatives and the management of Rapid Action Packaging (RAP) on recognition, pay and grade structure for hourly paid employees at the company’s plant in Gweedore, county Donegal. The...

SIPTU representatives have condemned the tone of a letter from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to the management of Community Employment (CE) Schemes, which requests the names of workers involved in industrial action and implies that...

SIPTU members in health and other public services will engage in consultation on the implications of the Labour Court recommendation arising from the claims submitted by the nursing unions, according to the Union’s deputy general secretary, John...

SIPTU representatives have welcomed the passing by Dáil Eireann of a motion, sponsored by Sinn Féin, calling on the Government and Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to immediately cease all referrals to the JobPath...

Workers and trade union organisers assembled outside the offices of JJ Rhatigan and Company, Newmarket Square, Dublin 8, this morning (Friday, 8th February) to hand in a letter requesting an urgent meeting to discuss compliance with...

SIPTU members will assemble near the Irish Ferries offices in Dublin Port tomorrow (Friday, 8th February) at 1.15 p.m. to hold a protest demanding decent wages for seafarers. SIPTU Organiser, Jerry Brennan, said: “The protest will take place as...

Nearly two hundred people including campaigners, union representatives, politicians and members the public attended a major ‘Raise the Roof’ conference in the CWU Centre in Dublin on Wednesday (30thJanuary). The focus of the event was the...

The Raise the Roof campaign platform will host a conference on Wednesday (30thJanuary) focused on establishing a new, legal right to housing and the need for increased investment in a major programme of public housing. The conference takes place in the CWU...

The SIPTU Dublin District Council and the Justice for Clerys Workers Campaign have called on the developers of the former iconic department store to fully adhere to the existing community benefit agreement for the site. SIPTU Dublin District Council Secretary and the...

The comprehensive defeat for Theresa May’s Brexit deal in the House of Commons on Tuesday (15thJanuary) highlights the urgency for the Government to step up engagement with trade unions in planning for a no-deal scenario, according to SIPTU Deputy General...

SIPTU nursing representatives met with the HSE today on the measures required to advance the pay and conditions of employment of our nursing and midwifery members, having regard to the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA). SIPTU representatives urged the...

SIPTU members in the Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) Emergency Medical Service are marking the 120th Anniversary of the start of the service today (Saturday, 5th January) with a call for the safeguarding of its future operation. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Brendan...

SIPTU has called on the government to take real action to solve the waste management crisis in Ireland rather than mere token gestures such as the announcement today (Friday, 4th January) that single-use plastic cups, cutlery and straws will not be...

SIPTU representatives have today (Friday, 28th December) confirmed that more than 7,000 support grade staff working in major hospitals and other healthcare centres across the state will be balloted for strike action early in the New Year.   The...

SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Ethel Buckley, has expressed the deepest condolences to the family of Jer O’Leary, following the death of the activist who made an immense contribution to the culture of trade unionism in Ireland through his...

SIPTU representatives have noted the clarification issued by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, yesterday (Thursday, 20th December), concerning the interim measures introduced to deal with the processing backlog for work...

SIPTU representatives are seeking a meeting with government officials concerning the recruitment of additional staff and possible impact on existing working conditions in the transport sector in the event of no-deal Brexit. SIPTU TEAC Division Organiser, Greg...

SIPTU representatives have today (Thursday, 20th December) highlighted the possible impact a no-deal Brexit could have on working people in Ireland, following the publication of contingency plans by the European Commission and the Irish government...

SIPTU representatives today (Thursday, 20thDecember) signed an agreement with Signature Living, the management company of the soon to be opened George Best Hotel in Donegall Square, Belfast, ensuring its workers will have their collective...

SIPTU Ambulance Sector representatives have today (Thursday, 20th December) confirmed that agreement has been secured on the conduct of an independent review of the role and responsibilities of ambulance professionals as part of the Public Service Stability...