Tag Archives: SIPTU

There will be no job losses in Roche’s manufacturing facility in the short term, despite yesterday’s confirmation of its shock closure over a three-year period. A company spokesperson has confirmed it is business as usual in Roche and stated there will be no redundancies before June 2016. After that time, in the event of a reduction in production of its products in its Clarecastle plant, the spokesperson explained the company would take another look at employment levels at that stage. Managing Director, Roche Ireland Limited, Gerry Cahill acknowledged Thursday was a very difficult day for all of its employees. “Clarecastle has been a significant and successful manufacturing site since 1974 and the proposal for Roche to exit the site is in no way a reflection on the performance of the people or the site. “We will do our utmost to support our colleagues during this transition,” he said. Roche has informed the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the IDA of …

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Transport, Timmy Dooley has cautioned the Government that they must work with bus unions to avert planned strikes by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann workers. Members of SIPTU and the National Bus and Rail Union are planning to hold two 48-hour stoppages on May 1 and 2 and May 15 and 16 in a row over the privatisation of bus routes. Deputy Dooley commented, “The Government, and Minister Paschal Donohoe in particular, needs to take whatever action is necessary to prevent these strikes from going ahead. The timing is particularly serious as it will affect tens of thousands of commuters, passengers and tourists on a busy bank holiday weekend. The fact that major rail engineering works are planned for that same weekend, resulting in the cancellation of a number of DART services and the closure of certain train stations adds to the imposition on travellers. “Commuters are understandably annoyed at the prospect of another strike. A previous strike in August …

The Oireachtas Transport Committee will hold a special meeting tomorrow (Thursday) to discuss the impact of the potential sale of Aer Lingus. Appearing before the committee in Leinster House will be representatives from: The Irish Airline Pilots Association, The Central Representatives Council of union groups within Aer Lingus, Dublin Chamber of Commerce, Cork Chamber of Commerce, Shannon Chamber of Commerce, Shannon Group PLC, Limerick Chamber of Commerce,IDA Ireland and SIPTU. Chairman, John O’Mahony, said, “Any proposed sale of the State’s stake in Aer Lingus would be of significant interest to passengers and to various interested stakeholder groups, including tourism, business and commerce groups and those working in the aviation industry in Ireland. “Tomorrow we will have a chance to discuss the implications of any possible sale of the Governmen’s stake in the airline in more detail, as well as the impact of any sale for the taxpayer. Committee members will want to address concerns about possible job losses and routes …

UP to 1,200 nurses in the Mid-West look set to approve industrial action early in the new year over “unsafe” plans to provide more than 100 extra beds in corridors and unsuitable rooms at Ennis Hospital and other local acute hospitals without extra staffing. Members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives’ Organisation (INMO) and SIPTU will ballot for industrial action during the first week of January over a new HSE escalation plan, which is designed to tackle chronic overcrowding in the emergency department (ED) at University Hospital Limerick (UHL). The general consensus indicates this ballot for industrial action will be approved by a large majority, paving the way for a work-to-rule as a starting point possibly during the third or fourth week of January. INMO representative, Mary Fogarty has demanded to know who sanctioned the reconfiguration of acute hospitals services in the Mid-West, which involved the closure of 24-hour emergency services in Ennis without putting the required additional resources into …

CLARE patients who are being transported to the University Hospital Limerick (UHL) are being “shortchanged” due to the “unsafe” levels of overcrowding, a nursing union has claimed. SIPTU health division representative, Tony Kenny, also expressed concern about the increased risk infection being posed to patients, who were among the 47 waiting for treatment on trolleys on Monday morning in the emergency department. According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), the number of patients waiting to be admitted fell to 35 on Tuesday. The union is supporting calls from the INMO for the implementation of the Major Emergency Plan at UHL to bring about a level of control and safety at the emergency department. Mr Kenny claimed, at one stage, an ambulance was waiting about 20 minutes to transfer a patient from the vehicle into the emergency department because there was no spare trolley to accommodate them. Noting that the recent HIQA report outlined the emergency department was not …

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe has welcomed the decision of SIPTU and the NBRU to call off planned strike action, which was due to begin on Sunday, following an agreement that was reached at the Labour Relations Commission in the early hours of this morning. This will come as welcome news for GAA supporters from Tipperary,  Kilkenny and Limerick (minors) who will be travelling to Dublin on Sunday for the All-Ireland hurling finals. It will also be a relief for third level students who avail of train services. The agreement, which was reached following days of talks with management and unions, will allow a ballot to take place on the LRC proposals, which are designed to protect the future viability of Irish Rail. “The fact that agreement has been reached by unions and management, which will allow the planned strike action to be averted, is most welcome. All parties to the dispute are aware of the financial …

Normal work has resumed at the Bunratty Roadstone quarry plant this week following settlement of an official strike at all of the company’s facilities. Roadstone Wood and SIPTU representatives met at the Labour Court on Thursday last in an attempt to reach agreement for the resumption of production at the plants nationwide. Proposed cost-cutting measure by the company were central to the dispute. It is understood that the overall vote for a return to work was 60% to 40% in favour, following a slight improvement in the company’s wage restructuring proposal. General operatives and truck drivers had claimed they would lose almost €20,000 in their wages over the next five years if a new cost-cutting plan is introduced against the workers’ wishes. Roadstone are celebrating their 65th anniversary and this was only the second industrial action of note within that period.    

Production remains shut down this Wednesday at Roadstone, Bunratty following the continuation of a nationwide strike against cuts to general operatives’ wages. An official SIPTU picket was placed on the  Bunratty plant on Monday by its employees, as part of a nationwide dispute affecting 20 of the firm’s facilities across the country. General operatives and truck drivers have been  protesting outside the Bunratty plant with official SIPTU placards According to SIPTU, workers will lose almost €20,000 in their wages over the next five years if a new cost-cutting plan is introduced against the wishes of workers. The union claims that the parent company, Cement Roadstone Holdings Limited are trying to implement unsustainable cost savings for Roadstone totalling €10 million over the next five years. The company has been in talks with union officials in recent times. Both parties were also involved in a Labour Court recommendation that urged both sides to resume negotiations. However, these negotiations broke down over the weekend. Management at the …