News Archive

SIPTU President, Jack O’Connor has said that Budget 2015 contains a number of positive measures but represents a missed opportunity to tackle the water charges controversy comprehensively. Jack O’Connor said: “There are a number of positive...

SIPTU has called on the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) to attend a conciliation conference hosted by the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) to discuss a dispute at the animal welfare charity resulting from a unilateral change to workers...

Support Staff in six of Dublin’s major teaching Hospitals have voted by a substantial majority in favour of protective strike action in a dispute over rosters and pay. “Following the unilateral decision by the hospital managements to change working...

SIPTU Vice President, Patricia King, will outline the reasons why a new Joint Labour Committee (JLC) for the hospitality industry is urgently required when she gives a press briefing in Liberty Hall 1.00 p.m. on Thursday, 9th October. She will also...

SIPTU President, Jack O’Connor, has endorsed the ‘Education IS’ initiative by the Union of Students in Ireland. The ‘Education IS’ campaign, which held a march and rally at Leinster House at 12.45 p.m. today is calling...

SIPTU members in the Kerry Women’s Refuge and Support Services, based in Tralee, Co. Kerry, have voted in favour of industrial action in a dispute concerning a unilateral change to workers' shift patterns. The decision to ballot support...

SIPTU members in Irish Rail have voted by 71% to 29% to accept Labour Relations Commission (LRC) proposals in relation to cost containment at the transport company in a ballot counted today (Friday, 3rd October) in Liberty Hall, Dublin. The proposals...

The announcement today that the Beckman Coulter plant in Mervue in Galway is to close with the loss of 140 jobs has come as a shock to many of the company’s employees, according to SIPTU Organiser, Frank Jones. “Our members are shocked at this...

SIPTU welcomes the launch of the Trade Unions Support Poles Abroad initiative in Ireland which will take place in the Conference Centre of the Communications Workers’ Union, Dublin 1, tomorrow (Friday, 26th September) between 10.00 a.m. and...

The SIPTU Dublin District Council has launched ‘A Vision for Dublin 2020 – Improving Our City’, a document which sets out five priority areas on which union members will campaign over the coming years to improve the city. Launching the document...

SIPTU members employed by Greyhound Recycling and Recovery voted by a substantial majority in favour of an agreement to end a 14-week long lockout at the company, at a meeting in Liberty Hall, Dublin, this afternoon (Monday, 22nd September)....

The group of unions representing residential care staff have described a Labour Court recommendation, dealing with sleepover duty as a major breakthrough. The recommendation, issued today (18th Thursday), calls for the recognition of sleepover duty...

The Young Workers' Network (YWN) greeted TDs and Senators returning to Leinster House after their summer break with a protest to highlight the impact on young people of the housing crisis and rising costs, on Wednesday, 17th September, at 1.00...

SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor, has called for the introduction of a “Water Tax Credit” in the October budget and has said that under no circumstance should tax reductions be funded by cuts to public expenditure. Writing in the...

SIPTU nurses will protest outside University Hospital Galway to highlight their concerns over the number of patients on trolleys in the Accident and Emergency Department, tomorrow (Wednesday, 17th September) from 1.00 p.m. to 2.00 p.m. SIPTU...

Domestic workers employed by foreign diplomatic staff will enjoy increased protection following the publication of new guidelines by the Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday, 12th September. As a guiding principle, diplomatic staff of embassies or...

Oration by SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor, to the memory of Limerick’s International Brigade Volunteers Merchant’s Quay, Limerick City and County Hall, Sunday 14th September We are here today to commemorate Frank...

SIPTU members at Greyhound Recovery and Recycling have rejected proposals in the long running dispute at the company which emerged from the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) last week. By a significant majority the workers who have been locked out of the company...

SIPTU members at Irish Rail are to ballot on proposals which emerged from discussions with company management which concluded early today at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC). SIPTU Organiser, Paul Cullen, said that a meeting of the Rail Committee of...

SIPTU members locked out of their jobs at Greyhound Recycling and Recovery have voted today (Tuesday, 2nd September) to accept a Labour Relations Commission (LRC) offer to engage in talks with representatives of the waste disposal company. A substantial majority...

SIPTU members in the Arts and Culture Sector have expressed their sympathy to the family and friends of RTE musician, John Lynch, who tragically died while on holiday in Crete on Friday (29th August). SIPTU Organiser, Graham Macken, said:...

Locked out Greyhound workers and their families will march to City Hall, Dublin 1, on Monday, 1st September, to demand that the City Council use all its powers to bring to an end the 11-week-old dispute at the waste disposal company. The march...

SIPTU has confirmed that it has been invited by the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) to a meeting tomorrow to update it on the continuing lockout of workers at the Greyhound Recycling and Recovery depots in west Dublin. “We have been contacted by the LRC and...

SIPTU members in Irish Rail are today (Monday, 25th August) manning pickets at stations across the rail network as part of a 24-hour work stoppage called in response to a unilateral cut to their wages. SIPTU Organiser, Paul Cullen, said: “It is...

Locked out Greyhound workers and their partners addressed over 50 local residents at a SIPTU organised meeting in the Sean O’Casey Community Centre, East Wall, Dublin 3, on Wednesday (20th August). The meeting was held for locked out workers to...

SIPTU members in Irish Rail will engage in a 24-hour work stoppage on Monday, 25th August, if the management of the transport company carries out its threat to introduce pay cuts without agreement. SIPTU Organiser, Paul Cullen, said: “Our...

SIPTU representatives will today (Wednesday, 20th August) attend preliminary talks at the Labour Relations Commission concerning a National Transport Authority (NTA) plan to privatise some bus routes. The NTA and the management of Bus Éireann and Dublin...

SIPTU members in Greyhound Recycling and Recovery, who have been locked out of their jobs for more than two months, have received gift vouchers for stores with unionsied workforces and a €10,000 donation for their support fund. SIPTU...

SIPTU has written on (Tuesday, 19th August) to the management of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co. Louth, to express the concern of its members at the number of patients on trolleys in the facility’s Accident and Emergency...

SIPTU members in Irish Rail will conduct a 48 hour work stoppage from 12.01 a.m. on Sunday, 7th September, and a further 24 hour work stoppage from 12.01 on Sunday, 21st September, if the transport company carries out a threat to cut workers...

SIPTU members in Greyhound Recycling and Recovery will continue their peaceful picket of the company’s depots in Crag Avenue, Dublin 22, and Knockmitten Lane, Dublin 12, tomorrow (Friday, 15th August). SIPTU Greyhound Shop...

Sinn Féin MEP for Dublin, Lynn Boylan, visited locked out Greyhound workers at their picket line outside the Greyhound Recycling and Recovery headquarters in Crag Avenue, Clondalkin, west Dublin, today (Thursday, 7th August)....

SIPTU has requested an urgent meeting with the senior management of The Society of St Vincent de Paul to discuss threatened job losses resulting from its decision to close the organisation's Area Office in Drogheda, Co. Louth. SIPTU Organiser, Karen...

The co-founder of Women Against Pit Closures, Anne Scargill, visited Greyhound workers at their picket line in Clondalkin, west Dublin, today (Wednesday, 6th August) in a show of solidarity with the SIPTU members who have been locked out...

SIPTU has called on the Government to commission and fund research on the health risks associated with shift work. SIPTU Health and Safety Advisor, Sylvester Cronin, said: “There is growing evidence from international research that erratic work...

SIPTU has today (Friday, 1st August) launched a ‘Discussion paper on Ireland’s housing crisis’ (attached) which sets out a four year plan to deal with the shortage of adequate social housing in the State. SIPTU General President, Jack...

Greyhound Recycling and Recovery workers who were hailed as heroes for saving a homeless man from being crushed in a refuse collection truck have written to the company requesting that their names and pictures be removed from its website. In February this year,...

SIPTU members at Shannon Aerospace Ltd voted this week by 75% to 25% to accept pension proposals issued by the Labour Relations Commission (LRC). SIPTU Organiser, Tony Carroll, said: “The proposals include the closure of the existing defined benefit...

Christy Moore and Don Baker will perform a concert in support of the locked out Greyhound Recycling and Recovery workers in Liberty Hall, Dublin 1, on Saturday, 16th August at 8.00p.m. SIPTU Greyhound Shop Steward, Jesse Hughes, said:...

SIPTU members in Irish Rail will launch a campaign of industrial action and participate in a one day work stoppage if the transport company carries out a threat to cut workers wages on Sunday, 24th August. The industrial action is scheduled to begin on...

The National Executive Council of SIPTU unreservedly condemns the latest Israeli aggression in Gaza which has resulted in the deaths of more than 800 people, the overwhelmingly majority of which are civilian non combatants many of them children, as well as...

A locked out Greyhound worker was hospitalised with a severe spinal injury after being hit by a van as it exited the company’s depot in Knockmitten, west Dublin, on Tuesday, 22nd July. SIPTU member, James Burke, was participating in...

SIPTU has requested an urgent meeting with the liquidator of Berehaven Credit Union to discuss the redundancy terms of staff members who have lost their jobs after the High Court granted an application by the Central Bank to wind up the financial institution yesterday...

The Cork Young Workers’ Network is holding a protest in solidarity with the locked out Greyhound workers outside The Peace Park, Grand Parade, Cork, at 3.00 p.m. on Saturday, 26th July. Cork Young Workers Network spokesperson,...

SIPTU has accused the management of the HSE of being soft on salary compliance for the highest earners following the announcement that many senior managers in Section 38 Health Service Providers are being allowed to maintain salary 'top up' payments. SIPTU...

Unite Regional Secretary, Jimmy Kelly, presented a cheque for €10,000 to the SIPTU Greyhound Workers’ Support Fund during a visit to the picket line outside the Greyhound Recycling and Recovery headquarters in Crag Avenue,...

The Construction Group of Unions has announced that it is to stage a number of protests at school buildings and other projects throughout the country as part of its Campaign for Decent Work in the Construction Industry. The campaign will commence on Friday, 18th...

SIPTU has placed Irish Rail on notice of the intention of its members to engage in industrial action if the company implements pay cuts to workers on 24th August. SIPTU Organiser, Paul Cullen, said: “SIPTU today (Friday, 18th July) informed the...

SIPTU has confirmed it will attend talks next week at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) concerning plans to privatise some routes currently operated by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann. Other parties to be represented at the talks include the National Transport...

SIPTU has written today (Tuesday, 15th July) to the new Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe, seeking an early meeting to discuss plans to tender out up to 10% of routes operated by Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus. SIPTU...

The lockout of workers by Greyhound Recycling and Recovery is entering its fifth week with the solidarity of the men unbroken and the employers’ disinformation campaign being increasingly exposed in the media. Strike committee member, Thomas Cummins,...

SIPTU members in Irish Rail have voted by 53% to 47% to reject an amended Labour Court Recommendation on a cost cutting plan for the transport company. SIPTU Organiser, Paul Cullen, said: “Our members have been given the opportunity to democratically...

SIPTU members in Roadstone Woods Ltd have accepted a Labour Court Recommendation and concluded a three week strike at the building materials company. SIPTU Organiser, Davy Lane, said: “SIPTU members in Roadstone Woods Ltd voted on Tuesday (8th July)...

SIPTU Organiser Alan O'Leary has said that the announcement by Pfizer that it will not proceed with the planned cut of 60 operator jobs at its Ringaskiddy plant in Cork is very welcome. The planned cuts were announced in 2012 but following intensive discussions...

SIPTU members along with sister unions in local authorities across the North took part in a one day over pay today (10th July) over pay. The public service worker’s strike was a great show of solidarity and strength with SIPTU members engaging in vibrant pickets...

SIPTU Divisional Organiser, Owen Reidy, has described as ‘completely misleading and false’ claims by the owner and management of Greyhound Recycling and Recovery that its enforcement of a 35% wage cut on workers is in line with a Labour Court...

SIPTU President, Jack O’Connor, has called on the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, to urgently establish a Government task force to review the current conditions of employment and other matters in the...

SIPTU has today (Friday, 4th July) suspended strike action at Roadstone Woods Ltd., pending a ballot of members, in accordance with a Labour Court Recommendation. SIPTU Organiser, Davy Lane, said: “The decision to suspend the strike...

SIPTU has endorsed the setting of a Living Wage for workers in Ireland of €11.45 per hour, as calculated by the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice (VPSJ). At a press conference in Dublin today (Thursday, 3rd July) it was announced that the...

SIPTU members who are locked out of their work at Greyhound Household Ltd will march to Dublin City Hall on Monday, 7th July. The event will begin with a rally at Liberty Hall at 3.30 p.m., followed by the workers and their supporters marching to City Hall...

SIPTU members employed across the manufacturing sector continue to receive pay increases with over 210 wage agreements finalised so far. The increases are part of a strategy by SIPTU’s Manufacturing Division which has secured pay increases across the sector by...

SIPTU has welcomed today’s decision by the High Court which lifted the three interim injunction orders granted to Greyhound Household Ltd on 17th June last. The decision means that management cannot interfere with official union pickets or prevent workers from...

SIPTU Divisional Organiser, Owen Reidy, has said the free transport scheme for senior citizens is under threat given the fact that the National Transportation Authority (NTA) has decided to privatise up to 10% of Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann services by...

SIPTU has called for advantage to be taken of the opportunities for expansion that are presented by the partial merger of Bord na Móna and Coillte following a meeting of the union’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee in Portlaoise, yesterday...

SIPTU has condemned the use of strikebreakers by Greyhound Household stating that it is unclear whether the individuals now carrying out domestic waste collection in Dublin can provide a professional service. Pickets were placed on the Greyhound Household plant in...

A number of major trade unions representing workers in all sectors of the economy participated in the 2014 Dublin Pride Parade, which took place on Saturday, 28th June. Among the unions taking part were: SIPTU, the PSEU, the TUI, the...

Construction workers from SIPTU and BATU trade unions are holding a protest this lunchtime (Thursday, 26th June) outside the Department of Education and Skills, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, to highlight its failure to uphold agreed terms and...

SIPTU members in the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin 2, have given notice to management that they intend to undertake two days of strike action on Monday, 7th July, and Monday, 14th July, in a dispute related to changes to their...

Construction Workers from the SIPTU and BATU trade unions will hold a protest outside the Department of Education and Skills on Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, tomorrow, Thursday, 25th June. The protest is to highlight the failure of the...

SIPTU has welcomed the announcement today (Wednesday, 25th June) of a major investment in the Bausch and Lomb plant in Waterford by the company’s owners, Valeant. SIPTU representatives attended a meeting today with Valeant Senior Vice...

A meeting of SIPTU and TEEU shop stewards at Roadstone Woods Ltd. condemned the bully boy tactics of the company management following its threat to close some of its operations and to place all employees on protective notice. SIPTU Organiser, Davy Lane said:...

In a demonstration of solidarity with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community and to celebrate Dublin’s Pride Festival, SIPTU will illuminate the rooftop of Liberty Hall in rainbow coloured lights on Saturday 21st June. The...

SIPTU members in the HSE National Ambulance Service including advanced paramedics, emergency medical technicians, controllers and patient transport service professionals are to ballot for strike action over the refusal by the HSE to implement two binding...

SIPTU has served seven days strike notice on Greyhound Household in west Dublin where workers have been prevented from attending work under their current terms and conditions of employment since 6.00 a.m. on Tuesday, 17th June. “Strike notice has been...

Greyhound waste collection workers have been unable to work at the company’s plant in Clondalkin since 6.00 a.m. this morning (Tuesday, 17th June) following an attempt by management to unilaterally implement cuts to their wages and changes to their...

SIPTU members began strike action at Roadstone Woods Ltd facilities across the country this morning (Monday, 16th June) in a dispute concerning an attempt by management to implement major cuts to workers’ wages. The strike action began at 12.00 a.m. this...

SIPTU has requested an immediate meeting with the management of Covidien following the announcement today (Monday, 16th June) that the medical device manufacturer has agreed to be acquired by Medtronic. SIPTU Organiser, Frank Jones, said: “Our...

SIPTU members in Irish Rail are to ballot on fresh proposals for cost saving measures in the company. According to SIPTU Sector Organiser, Willie Noone, the proposals include definitive clarity on exchequer subvention for the rail service for the next...

SIPTU has said that it will carefully study the final report of the Expert Panel on the resolution of industrial relations issues in the Irish Aviation Superannuation Scheme (IASS) which was issued today. “The report of the Expert Panel is a complex document...

SIPTU members in Bausch and Lomb in Waterford have today (Monday, 16th June) voted by 563 in favour to 157 against to accept cost saving proposals which management has stated will secure the long-term future of the plant. The agreement includes a wage reduction...

Negotiations between trade union representatives and management of Bausch and Lomb concerning the company’s contact lens manufacturing plant in Waterford concluded this morning (Thursday, 12th June) without agreement. SIPTU Organiser, Alan...

SIPTU has welcomed the publication by Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) of the report on the safety, quality and standard of services at the University Limerick Hospitals Group. Commenting on the publication of the report SIPTU Sector Organiser,...

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions said today (Thursday, 5th June) that the current rate of job creation was too slow to make ‘significant inroads’ into, or end the ongoing jobs crisis. Congress Assistant General Secretary, Sally Anne...

Union representatives and management at Bausch and Lomb in Waterford have invited Labour Relations Commission (LRC) Director of Conciliation, Kevin Foley, and LRC Deputy Director of Conciliation, Anna Perry, to co-chair talks between the...

SIPTU members in Irish Rail have balloted by a ratio of 2-1 to support official industrial action in the event that management unilaterally implements changes to their conditions of employment. SIPTU members had recently voted by 51% to 49% against a Labour Court...

Speaking today after the publication of May’s exchequer returns, SIPTU President, Jack O’ Connor, has called on the Government to make it clear that there will be no further requirement for cuts affecting working families in Budget 2015....

SIPTU has welcomed the positive outcome to a meeting held this afternoon (Monday, 2nd June) with local Waterford politicians concerning the threat to pay and jobs faced by workers in the Bausch and Lomb manufacturing plant in Waterford. SIPTU Sector...

SIPTU members will conduct a one-day work stoppage at the National Gallery, Dublin, on Thursday (5th June) in dispute related to the removal of seven annual leave days. SIPTU Organiser, Jason Palmer, said: “The dispute at the National...

Welfare staff working for The Donkey Sanctuary are undertaking a two-hour strike today (Friday, 30th May) before meeting to discuss an escalation of their industrial action at the registered charity based in Liscarroll, Mallow, county Cork. The...

SIPTU Vice President, Patricia King, has called on the Minister for Jobs, Innovation and Enterprise, Richard Bruton, to convene an urgent meeting of unions, government and state agencies in response to the threatened job and pay...

SIPTU has called on the Government to redouble its efforts to retain jobs at the Bausch and Lomb/Valeant manufacturing plant in Waterford following the announcement today that 200 jobs are to go at the company. Responding to the announcement, SIPTU Sector...

“Seven days in, we’re staying strong. Today (Thursday 29 May) workers and supporters will again take our demands to the estate of multi-millionaire company director Ruth Savill in Wicklow. It’s the end of the month: our rent is due, we...

SIPTU Services Division Organiser, John King, has expressed the union’s full support for the workers protest at Paris Bakery in Dublin over the behaviour of their employer in ceasing trading and leaving their workers without thousands of euros of...

SIPTU members in Irish Rail have today (Wednesday, 21st May) voted by 51% to 49% to reject a Labour Court recommendation issued in relation to cost containment plans at the transport company. Over 1,700 members participated in the ballot which was...

Welfare staff working for The Donkey Sanctuary have expressed disgust at their treatment by management following its failure to accept union representation at a meeting held today (Wednesday, 21st May) to discuss the ongoing dispute at the registered charity....

A ceremony marking the official naming of the Rosie Hackett Bridge, which spans the Liffey between Marlborough Street and Hawkins Street, took place on Tuesday, 20th May. Those addressing the event included Lord Mayor Oisín Quinn, SIPTU...

The SIPTU Meath District Council and SIPTU Louth District Council are jointly calling for the retention of full services in the newly built Accident and Emergency Department in Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan. The retention of these services would not only...

Welfare staff working for The Donkey Sanctuary will commence a series of two-hour strike actions on Monday (19th May). SIPTU members will picket the registered charity’s headquarters in Liscarroll, Mallow, Co. Cork, during the actions which are...

In a significant decision, trucking company, Stobart, has been ordered to compensate eighteen SIPTU members who were denied their rights when they transferred their employment from the food distributor Keelings in October 2010. The Employment Appeals...

The proposal by the National Transport Authority (NTA) to put out to tender 10% of Bus Eireann routes and 100% of Waterford city services by 2016 will be the subject of a public meeting which will take place at 7.30 p.m. in the Tower Hotel in Waterford on Thursday...