SIPTU General Secretary Elect, John King, has called for “a renewal of trade union activism” and urged the Union’s members gathered in Galway for their Biennial Delegate Conference to “reclaim lost ground, to rebuild, to renew, to recapture the hearts and minds of working people”.
King, who will take over the leadership of the country’s largest trade union in March next year, told delegates today (Tuesday, 11thNovember), “The trust you have placed in me to be your next General Secretary and to lead our great team of activists, officers and staff is not only a great honour but a profound responsibility”
During his address, he committed to “build a SIPTU that is not just strong, but vibrant; not just enduring, but powerful in every corner and community of Ireland”.
He added: “We meet at a crucial moment, on so many levels, for democracy, for social cohesion, for peace and justice, for the future world of work. A moment of political shifts to the right, a time when our Government has abandoned the interests of working people, of global instability including a full frontal attack on democracy, and of an enduring cost-of-living crisis that is squeezing the life out of us, our families and communities.
“Yes, we can see the stats, our economy, on paper, is strong. But working people don’t feel that at the checkout and watching their wages disappear before the end of every month.”
He added: “Our opponents have tried to write us off. They say we are irrelevant. To sideline and silence our voice and none of this is for the first time. We must mobilise our entire membership to send a message that SIPTU is the voice of working people, and our voice will be heard.”
The SIPTU Biennial Delegate Conference has brought together more than 300 delegates from across the private and public sector to debate the policy of the Union for the next two years. The Conference concludes on Thursday, 13th November 2025. John King will serve a term of six years as SIPTU General Secretary.