Latest news with #Siptu
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Staff at Bord na Móna bin collection service to go on strike this month over planned sale
A Siptu spokesperson said its members have rejected a proposal brokered at the Workplace Relations Commission to resolve the dispute. The industrial action will begin with a one-day strike on Thursday June 19 and will ramp up to two days of stoppages the following week, and three days the week after that. Bord na Móna Recycling provides wheelie bin and waste collection services to up to 135,000 customers in Leinster and Munster. It has customers in Carlow, Kildare, Laois, Limerick, Meath, Offaly, Roscommon, Tipperary, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow. Bord na Móna has announced plans to sell the company to Kerry-based KWD Recycling. Siptu officials said it is the country's last publicly owned domestic waste-collection service and warned prices could rise if the number of operators shrinks. Siptu divisional organiser Adrian Kane said the workers' strike committee met last night and unanimously agreed to reinstate a notice of strike and industrial action. He said notice was served on the company today 'and our members are determined to see this through'. 'Our members don't want to be in this position but feel they have no choice,' he said. He said the primary reason they rejected the proposal was due to an alleged failure of the company to agree a Registered Employment Agreement. ADVERTISEMENT Mr Kane said this would guarantee the workers' terms and conditions were protected in the event of a sale. 'The fire sale of Bord na Móna Recycling is bad for workers, customers, and the environment,' he said. 'It makes no economic or environmental sense. 'Why privatise the last remaining publicly owned domestic waste provider?'
Irish Independent
24-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Staff on RTÉ's religious programmes to be redeployed as Donnybrook masses end
It has announced it will shift in-house Christian productions on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player to a variety of churches nationwide. The move is part of a plan to commission Christian worship content from independent producers from next year. An RTÉ spokesperson said the plan will be carried out in partnership with Ireland's 'major denominations' from a number of 'hub' churches. When asked if a Sunday mass will still be broadcast, he said there will be no change to the service, apart from it being produced in the independent sector. Roger Childs, RTÉ's commissioning editor of religious content, said masses, services and other forms of Christian worship will continue to be broadcast every Sunday and on Christian holidays. This includes St Patrick's Day, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. When asked about the impact of the move on workers, a spokesperson said management met with the team involved in the delivery of masses and services and 'they were informed that they would be redeployed to other programmes when this move happens'. A letter from the RTÉ Group of Unions to HR chief Eimear Cusack yesterday sought an urgent meeting to discuss the changes and impact on members. Siptu sector organiser Robbie Purfield said he believes fewer than 50 staff who work on religious programming will be affected. This is a public service and should be kept in-house. This could be the thin edge of the wedge. What's next? He said Siptu members want management to reverse the decision to outsource production, including the mass broadcasts, to the independent sector. ADVERTISEMENT 'These workers are in various grades, but the religious programme is not all they do,' he said. 'They would do everything from setting up the altar to the technical and operational elements, but now there will be less work for them. 'I know part of the strategy is that RTÉ needs to broadcast more from the independent sector, but this is a public service and should be kept in-house. This could be the thin edge of the wedge. What's next?' Mr Purfield said there has been no consultation with unions on the plan. RTÉ's managing editor of video and director of content, Seán Mac Giolla Phádraig, said technological advances mean it is possible to broadcast masses and services cost-effectively from churches nationwide. He said this would enable RTÉ to shift production from the Donnybrook studio base into 'authentic congregational worship settings' across 32 counties. Mr Childs said studio production of worship content has served audiences well for many years. However, the current production model requires groups to often travel long distances to Montrose. In addition, he said the studio's limited capacity allows for only a small representative presence from the featured parishes or school groups. A spokesperson said the launch of the new commissioning process is in line with RTÉ's 'New Direction' strategy. He said the Future of Media Commission recommended that 25pc of public funding to RTÉ is invested in the independent sector, and the Government intends to put this into legislation.
Irish Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Siptu renews push for recognition at several large plants in pharma and medical device sectors
Siptu says it will step up efforts to win recognition at a number of plants operated by well-known multinationals in the pharma and medical device sectors with senior officials suggesting there has been increased interest in representation since US President Donald Trump's various moves on tariffs which have generated increased uncertainty among employees. Members of the union at the AbbVie plant in Carrigtwohill, Co Cork have been engaged in a work to rule for the past week in pursuit of collective bargaining rights and Siptu manufacturing divisional organiser, Neil McGowan, said the union was also renewing efforts to gain recognition at plants operated by DePuy Synthes, Johnson & Johnson, Stryker, Eli Lilly, Boston Scientific, Steris AST and Servier. In a majority of instances, the union has already been through the process set out under Section 20 of the Industrial Relations Act 1969 in an effort to gain negotiating rights but has not succeeded in reaching agreement with management. In six of the seven cases, including AbbVie, the Labour Court recommended the employers engage with the unions on pay and other issues but such recommendations are not enforceable. READ MORE 'We didn't achieve the outcomes we'd been seeking previously but in the context of the Adequate Minimum Wage Directive, we'd be a bit more optimistic now. Hopefully the mood music has changed a bit around collective bargaining.' He said the situation was particularly frustrating in cases like AbbVie because the union is recognised in other plants operated by the company, including the former Allergan facility in Westport. Similarly, Stryker and Johnson & Johnson engage with the union, which most commonly represents general operatives, at some of their facilities but not others. In most cases, the different policies are the result of plants changing hands and firms continuing with practices already in place. 'We do bargain with AbbVie because they bought Allergan in Co Mayo and we have a reasonable relationship with them so you'd hope that would impact on the dynamic as well,' said Mr McGowan. He says the mood of the union's members had hardened somewhat in recent months over pay increases and 'there's a real determination among the membership there to get on the pitch and start collectively bargaining'. He said the current action at the plant would continue for another week or so after which consideration would be given to how to proceed. Siptu-organised groups at all the plants have, meanwhile, made submissions to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment consultation on the action plan the Government is required to draw up under the terms of the Adequate Minimum Wage directive before the end of the year. About 80 submissions are understood to have been received in all. AbbVie was approached for comment.
Irish Independent
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Second group of RTÉ workers condemn Israel's involvement in Eurovision, claiming it is ‘whitewashing genocide'
Siptu members at the broadcaster called for the suspension of Israel from the song contest after NUJ members made the same demand. RTÉ director-general Kevin Bakhurst met with the European Broadcasting Union last week to raise concerns about Israel's inclusion in the contest. He had asked the EBU for a discussion on Israel's participation after the National Union of Journalists wrote to management in protest at Israel's inclusion. However, he said RTÉ would not withdraw from the contest. Greg Ennis, deputy general secretary of Siptu, said its members in RTÉ stand with their colleagues in the NUJ who called on the EBU to suspend Israel's participation in this year's contest. 'As Israel prepares to take to the Eurovision stage this evening, we wholeheartedly condemn the EBU's repeated refusal to take responsibility, to show moral leadership and to cease providing a global platform for Israeli advocacy,' he said. He claimed that by doing so the EBU is 'normalising and whitewashing Israel's genocidal actions and war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank, which has turned Palestine into the greatest humanitarian crisis in generations'. Mr Ennis said he welcomed the approach of Mr Bakhurst and RTÉ's Director of Video, Steve Carson, in pressing the issue with the EBU and raising RTÉ's concerns. He urged RTÉ to 'push the EBU to go further as they did in expelling Russia in 2022' and suspend the involvement of Israel in this year's contest. Siptu divisional organiser, Adrian Kane, said Israel's government is refusing to allow a leading Palestinian intellectual to travel to take part in the Robert Tressell Festival in Dublin later this month. He said this is happening 'while we are supposed to accept Israel's involvement in the Eurovision is merely a cultural matter'. 'While Israel wishes to present itself as a normal democracy it fails to even give a semblance of respect to international law and allow Omar Barghouti, a man accused of no crime, to travel freely to this festival of ideas taking place in Liberty Hall on May 24,' he said. 'It is about time the world accepts Israel is far from a normal country but one which is based on an apartheid system and a genocidal campaign against the Palestinian people which is being waged in all spheres including the cultural. 'We stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine, including the many media workers who have been killed and continue to be targeted deliberately by Israeli forces in Gaza. Israel must be held to account not allowed to hide its genocide behind a sick charade of normality.' Eurovision Song Contest director, Martin Green said: 'We understand the concerns and deeply held views around the current conflict in the Middle East and remain in constant contact with those participating this year, including RTE, on all aspects of the contest.' He said the EBU is not immune to global events but together its members its role is to ensure the contest remains at heart a universal event that promotes connections, diversity and inclusion through music. "We all aspire to keep the Eurovision Song Contest positive and inclusive and aspire to show the world as it could be, rather than how it necessarily is,' he said. 'As a reminder, the EBU is an association of public service broadcasters, not governments, who are eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest every year if they meet the necessary requirements.' He said it is not the EBU's role to make comparisons between conflicts. "As part of its mission to secure a sustainable future for public service media, the EBU is supporting its Israeli Member Kan against the threat of being privatized or shut down by the Israeli government,' he said. He said the EBU remains aligned with other international organisations that have similarly 'maintained their inclusive stance towards Israeli participants in major competitions at this time'.
Dublin Live
12-05-2025
- Dublin Live
Luas driver's lucky escape after projectile fired at him
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Siptu wants an urgent meeting with the Government over rising violent antisocial behaviour on the transport network. It is also calling on Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien to follow through on a Fianna Fail commitment to establish a dedicated transport policing service. It comes after a recent incident in which a Luas driver was lucky to escape injury when a "projectile fired at high power" towards him impacted his cab window in the Tallaght area of South Dublin. Siptu transport sector organiser John Murphy said: "We have written to the minister twice in recent months seeking a meeting, this has yet to occur. "Fianna Fail has committed to the establishment of a transport policing service and this must be actioned as a matter of urgency. In the last two weeks, we have seen two very serious incidents on the public transport network in Dublin involving our members. "A Dublin Bus driver [was] threatened at gunpoint in Mountjoy Square in the north inner-city and a projectile [was] fired at high power, hitting a Luas Driver's cab in the Tallaght area. "Both of these incidents could potentially have resulted in serious injury or worse to workers or passengers. "Siptu's Respect Transport Workers campaign has been instrumental in bringing this unacceptable behaviour to national attention. Immediate action must be taken by the Government and the National Transport Authority to put the necessary resources into protecting staff, passengers and the vital services that our communities depend on daily." It is understood the incident took place at the Cookstown Luas stop in Tallaght on May 1. Luas drivers' safety representative Marc Winters, who has been highlighting the need for a public transport police service since 2010, said the latest attack is just one of many. He added: "This is not an isolated incident of antisocial behaviour or threats to drivers. Drivers already have a very stressful job and they're concerned that not enough is being done to protect them. "Recently, drivers have been confronted at toilet facilities based at the end of line. In another recent incident, a male performed a sex act behind a female driver as she drove her tram." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
