Robert Courtney is the type of committed activist that has provided the backbone to our organisation for decades. The security worker who received his 50 year membership scroll and badge last year has been a Union Shop Steward since he was the age of 15.
“I was working as a junior usher in a Dublin cinema when I joined the Union in 1974”, Courtney said. “From there I went on to work in the Abbey Theatre and then into security work, I always maintained my activity in the Union throughout the change in jobs.”
It hasn’t always been plain sailing for Robert as an activist or in the workplace. While working as a cash in transit security guard he was caught up in a major robbery that led to several criminals receiving long prison sentences. As a trade union activist he is concerned about the need to revitalise the movement.
He said: “We’ve come from the past but we need to look to the future and get the younger people back in again.”
Robert worked in a data centre in South Dublin until his retirement. He said the biggest issues impacting security workers currently are pay and long shifts. “The long working hours and the stress this brings is very detrimental to people’s health. We have a problem with recruitment and retention, so staffing issues often lead to longer working hours”, he said.
Adding: “We need to get hours down and wages up.”
Robert retired as a security guard in June 2024 but will continue to be active in the Union.
Caption: Presentation of 50-year membership scroll and badge (left to right) SIPTU Sector Organiser, Ed Kenny, SIPTU Security Section President, Christy Waters, Robert Courtney and SIPTU Organiser, Gary Smith in Liberty Hall at the Contract Services AGM 2024.