Latest news with #OwenReidy
Irish Times
6 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Unions call on workers to pause for ‘reflection' on child deaths in Gaza
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) has called on workers to participate in a 'moment of respectful reflection' at 1.05pm on Wednesday in solidarity with the victims of the conflict in Gaza and has expressed the hope that employers will respect their staff's desire to participate. The event has been timed to coincide with the International UN Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, the organisation says. The Taoiseach has said that UN agencies should be "enabled and allowed" to distribute food aid in Gaza amid ongoing deaths at aid centres. Video: Bryan O'Brien 'Since the beginning of the conflict, Israel's assault on Gaza has resulted in the deaths of more than 15,000 children and injuries to 34,000 others,' said Ictu in a statement. The event, it said, would serve 'as a simple act of solidarity and remembrance for the loss of life over the past 18 months'. READ MORE Ictu general secretary Owen Reidy said the event is in response to calls from union members to mark the 'devastating impact on the people of Gaza, particularly the children who have suffered so greatly'. Announcing the initiative last week, he said, 'union members, like much of the Irish public, have been appalled by Israel's wanton violations of international law'. Congress said the event is not intended to be regarded as a work stoppage and has asked members and other workers to co-ordinate with their employers wherever possible. Mr Reidy said there had been a positive response to the move since it was announced last week and the organisation is expecting tens of thousands of members to participate. [ UN demands investigation as at least 27 Palestinians are killed near Gaza aid site Opens in new window ] More than 50,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its military action in response to the cross-border attack by Hamas; an assault that resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people, according to Israel. More 4,000 Palestinians have died since Israel resumed its offensive on March 18th, according to the territory's health ministry.
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- General
- RTÉ News
Workers to observe nationwide moment of reflection for Gaza
Workers across Ireland are expected to participate in a moment of reflection at lunchtime today amid the going violence in Gaza. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has asked that at 1:05pm, participating workers mark a moment of respectful reflection, as a simple act of solidarity and remembrance for the loss of life over the past eighteen months. Today is the International UN Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression. "As the appalling violence in Gaza continues, our members asked that the trade union movement lead in reflecting on this terrible loss of life," said ICTU General Secretary Owen Reidy. "Since announcing the moment of reflection last week, we have been heartened by the response from the 800,000 union members across the island." "The UN Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression provides an opportunity to pause and reflect on these tragic events and their devastating impact on the people of Gaza, particularly the children who have suffered so greatly," Mr Reidy said. Workers who wish to participate are encouraged to observe the moment of reflection respectfully, whether in their workplace, at home, or wherever they may be. ICTU said the moment of reflection is not a work stoppage, and is encouraging participating workers to coordinate with their employers where possible. SIPTU staff and members will stage a solidarity action at 1.05pm, on Butt Bridge in Dublin across from the 'Ceasefire Now' banner on the side of Liberty Hall.
Irish Independent
15-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Irish Congress of Trade Unions warns of industrial unrest if there is ‘further backsliding' on workers' rights
Owen Reidy, general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, was speaking following a meeting with opposition parties today. He said the meeting was convened to discuss concerns about the Government's 'continued erosion of workers' rights'. Senior union officials including Mr Reidy met with Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, Social Democrat acting leader Cian O'Callaghan and Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik. Mr Reidy listed a number of planned worker entitlements that have been delayed. He said last month the Government announced it would delay the introduction of a living wage until 2029. Mr Reidy said proposals to abolish wage rates for young people that are below the minimum wage were also postponed, sick pay was not extended and the introduction of pension auto-enrolment was delayed. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions said in a statement that it has re-iterated that any further backsliding on workers' rights could result in industrial unrest, and urged opposition parties to support workers during economic turbulence. "We were pleased to meet with opposition leaders today and share the clear message from union members and low paid workers nationwide: by breaking their promises, and rowing back on basic protections, the Government has plunged thousands of low paid workers into economic uncertainty,' said Mr Reidy. He said global economic turbulence should not be used as an excuse to 'short-change' workers. Mr Reidy said he was heartened to hear strong support for these workers from opposition politicians. 'We believe that political pressure is critical in ensuring government lives up to its commitments, and I look forward to working closely with all parties to make this happen,' he said. A living wage worth 60pc of national median wages had been due to be introduced next year.
Irish Independent
07-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Government faces demands for State payments of over €450 per week for workers hit by US tariffs
Owen Reidy, general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, said the maximum level of a new jobseekers benefit would not 'cut it' for staff in the pharma and food and drinks sector. He was speaking after Ictu and Ibec sent a letter to Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary seeking a 'higher new scheme rate' for those facing temporary lay-off or short time working. The new Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit (JPRB) is capped at €450 a week. 'If we want to protect high skilled jobs, we need to keep people connected to employment, as close enough to the rate of pay as possible,' said Mr Reidy. 'If we don't do that, these people will move to other industries and sectors and those skill sets will be lost.' He said a 'bespoke' benefit is necessary for staff in the pharma and food and drinks sector. An Ibec spokesperson said the new JPRB scheme should be amended to support those experiencing short-time working at a higher new scheme rate. She said training should also be facilitated from day one of unemployment. However, she said the business organisation is not seeking an increase in the €450 cap for the new JPRB scheme for individuals who are made redundant. 'However, for employees who are placed on short-time working the social protection payment has remained as a flat rate payment irrespective of earnings,' she said. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more Meanwhile, a senior Siptu official said Donald Trump's tariff threat will have an impact on future film productions by US companies in Ireland even if he does not carry through on it. He called for an Irish film industry stakeholder meeting in light of the US president's threat to implement major tariffs on foreign films. Siptu sector organiser, Robbie Purfield, said the film and TV industry supports a large number of jobs in Ireland. He said stakeholders within the industry must discuss a unified approach to what is a threat to 'all our livelihoods'. Mr Purfield said the US market is perhaps more important to the industry in Ireland than it is to any other country due to our 'cultural affinity and shared language'. 'As the union which organises film crew throughout Ireland, Siptu wishes to discuss with producers, government agencies and others in the artistic sector how best we can protect our world renowned industry from what will hopefully just be a short term shock,' he said. Irish Equity president, Gerry O'Brien, said the industry is a global one and US productions need international markets and revenues to survive. 'This will affect the livelihoods of thousands of performers and crew across the globe and lead to a slowdown in production here,' he said.
Irish Times
01-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Delay in minimum wage could lead to industrial action, unions warn
The Government is 'misreading the room' if it thinks slowing the pace of minimum wage increases will not prompt a backlash, Irish Congress of Trade Unions general secretary Owen Reidy has said. Reacting to news that it would not reach Living Wage levels until 2029 – instead of 2026 as originally planned – Mr Reidy said there was already widespread scepticism the new commitment would be honoured given the decision to abandon the old one despite the ongoing strength of the economy. 'The Minister [for Enterprise], Mr [Peter] Burke needs to realise, and the Government needs to realise, if they are sending some kind of subliminal message to employers they can delay all this stuff, and employers who can afford to pay decent wages go along with that, then that's going to lead to industrial action.' Mr Reidy was speaking at an Ictu event on Thursday to mark the 25th anniversary of the introduction of the National Minimum Wage, which was originally set at £4.40. READ MORE He said he would be outlining the scale of union concerns and anger over recent 'U-turns' on wage hikes and other scheduled measures on issues such as sick pay when the two men held a scheduled meeting on Thursday. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland Mr Burke said 'we are not pausing the minimum wage, there will be a significant increase in the minimum wage this year in line with the Low Pay Commission recommendation. What we are doing is lengthening the period of time we are taking to get to the Living Wage, which is 60 per cent of the median wage across the economy. 'We're within striking distance of that [but] I know from the joint report we had with the Department of Social Protection that 75 per cent of minimum wage workers reside in hospitality and retail. These are very exposed sectors. So my core objective is to retain jobs.' Ictu has argued that the scale of the threat posed to businesses is exaggerated. Addressing the Ictu event, Paul MacFlynn, codirector of the Nevin Economic Research Institute, said all of the concerns raised at the time about the potential for negative impacts on unemployment levels, particularly among women and younger workers had proved to be unfounded. 'There have been none to be found in an Irish context,' he said. 'The national minimum wage has been a success in terms of what it was supposed to do: eradicate very low pay but that's it. More skilled workers have continued to be able to maintain and improve wage levels, meanwhile, but there is a problem in the middle, among workers who relied on trade unions to negotiate on their behalf. That's what we need to get back to.' The National Youth Council of Ireland, meanwhile, reiterated its call for the Minister to abolish the sub minimum rates paid to workers under 20, which currently start at €9.45 compared the full National Minimum Wage rate of €13.50. Speaking at the Ictu event, Mandate's Caroline Clifford said the union could see no basis for the sub-minimum rates in retail. 'There are no apprenticeships in the sector,' she said, 'so we don't believe there is any justification for paying young workers any less than their older colleagues.'
