The Government must now immediately commit to refund the additional childcare costs that essential health workers have incurred since schools and crèches were closed on 12th March, according to the country’s largest public service trade union. The Government must now immediately commit to refund the additional childcare costs that essential health workers have incurred since schools and crèches were closed. Fórsa said that this evening’s (Wednesday’s) announcement that a Government plan to provide childcare for essential health workers was not going ahead – less than a week after it was announced – was a let-down for staff struggling to balance […]

Date Released: 13 May 2020 Workers at National Pen in Dundalk, county Louth have insisted that they wish to be represented by SIPTU during discussions on redundancy terms following the decision by the company to remove 176 employees from its workforce. SIPTU Industrial Organiser, Denis Sheridan said: “The management of National Pen has failed to respond to a request by employees to be represented by our union during the 30 day consultation period prior to any redundancies coming into effect. Instead, the company has asked workers to nominate representatives from groups of employees chosen by management. This process is deeply […]

Fórsa, which represents workers in the four Dublin local authorities, has this evening (Sunday) urged councillors to reject a Dublin City Council proposal to sell a Ballymount waste recycling facility to a private company. The proposal will come before the monthly meeting of Dublin City councillors tomorrow (Monday). Fórsa says proposals to sell the site would pre-empt the outcome of a review, currently underway, which is exploring the possibility of bringing waste collection and related environmental services back into public control, following its privatisation in 2012. The new proposal to sell the Ballymount recycling facility would undermine the earlier decision […]

Social partnership almost destroyed the labour movement in Ireland.  The 1990 Industrial Relations Act, and the equivalent legislation in the six counties, have left unions with no political clout to shape our future.  The Irish working class has suffered terribly from more than a decade of austerity – the direct transfer of wealth from workers to the ruling class.   No doubt the other “social partners” (big business lobby groups like IBEC and the CIF) envision the same again in the coming months: working-class people to be sacrificed for a return to “economic stability”, when the Covid-19 debt is calculated.  We […]

The Bord na Móna (BNM) Group of Unions condemned the decision of management at the semi-state company to attempt to proceed with the removal of workers from its payroll. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Willie Noone, said: “Management has decided to select workers unfairly and without any logic for removal from its payroll while it has allowed others access to the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS). “The BNM Group of Unions has instructed workers which the company has sought to remove from the payroll to report for work as normal. We are calling on the company to adhere to the Government policy of using […]

Trade Union Left Forum May Day Statement. The Trade Union Left Forum would like to to express solidarity to all workers in struggle in Ireland and around the world today on this International Workers’ Day. We remember all those who have died at work in the front line fighting the coronavirus. We remember our fallen brothers and sisters and pledge to fight like hell for the Living to build a just world where all humanity can reach their full potential.   We express our solidarity with hundreds of millions of workers across the world suffering restrictions on their rights under […]

While some advocate premature opening, Unite’s Julia Marciniak lifts the lid on our hospitality & tourism sector.   While some advocate premature opening, Unite’s Julia Marciniak lifts the lid on our hospitality & tourism sector “Washing hands doesn’t contribute to profits, so it’s not a priority for bosses”. Most Easter weekends see us visiting pubs and restaurants to meet up with friends.  This weekend is very different, with hospitality outlets closed as a result of Covid-19.   As we sit at home, have a read of this post by Unite Hospitality Coordinator Julia Marciniak who lifts the lid on the conditions faced by many hospitality workers – and […]

International Solidarity: Inspirational Video from Fire Brigade Union in Britain to their Italian Comrades

May Day 2020: The current situation and our duties 20 Apr 2020 MAY DAY   The World Federation of Trade Unions, on the occasion of May Day 2020, salutes the workers in all continents; all those whose work continues to move the gears of life even in difficult conditions such as the Coronavirus Pandemic and keeps producing all the necessary goods so that life may continue and the needs of workers and popular strata can be met. We honor the millions of employees in public healthcare systems around the world: doctors, nurses, all healthcare workers, who amidst the Coronavirus pandemic […]

On the occasion of 17th of April, the Palestinian Day of Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners in Israeli jails, the World Federation of Trade Unions once more extends its unwavering support to our Palestinian brothers and sisters and reiterates the demand of immediate release of all Palestinian political prisoners from the Israeli jails. Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails continue to be subject to extensive violations of their rights and dignity. Around 5.000 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons and detention centers, including 183 children and over 400 held under administrative detention, a form of detention without charge or trial that […]