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File photo of striking Siptu workers. RollingNews.ie

SIPTU has authorised its 60,000 members to ballot on industrial and strike action

The president of SIPTU said it was “honouring its commitment” to its members.

Updated: 17:20 

SIPTU HAS AUTHORISED ballots by union members for industrial and strike action on public service pay.

In a statement issued by their executive council this evening, the union said it had accepted difficult pay deals made during the recession but said it was now time to seek an increase in wages.

The statement read: “Throughout the very difficult years since the economic collapse of 2008 the National Executive Council (NEC) of SIPTU has recommended acceptance of extremely difficult choices in both the industrial and political arena across the private and the public service.

We always made it clear that when circumstances changed we would take whatever action was necessary to re-take lost ground.

“We have decided today to authorise each recognised negotiating group of the union’s members in the Public Service to conduct ballots seeking mandates for industrial action and/or strike action in pursuit of better terms.

“Mandates will be activated unless the Government issues an invitation to talks to the Public Services Committee of Congress.  Any such invitation should envisage the commencement of talks not later than 1 February.”

Increased pay and working conditions

This morning, SIPTU president Jack O’Connor said that the union are seeking increases in pay in line with the increased output of the country.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he said that the union had committed to “supporting workers” in claiming pay restoration when the economy improved.

“This current executive council (of SIPTU) recommended a strategy on the industrial and indeed the political side that was most unpalatable during some of the most difficult days in the history of our country,” he said.

We always made it clear that when things improved that we would support workers mobilising and taking industrial action and strike action to recover the ground they had lost.

O’Connor said that today was the last meeting of the current executive council and that its members were “most anxious to ensure” that they were leaving the council honouring the commitment to support the workers.

With reporting by Garreth MacNamee

Read: SIPTU threatens to ballot all 60,000 members unless Government sits down for pay talks

Read: Pressure increases on government as unions set a six-day deadline

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72 Comments
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    Mute George Vladisavljevic
    Favourite George Vladisavljevic
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    Sep 30th 2022, 12:12 PM

    Liquid natural gas, fracked gas, increased coal burning for power plants. Reopening of nuclear plants, shipping more and more natural gas, oil and coal from around the world, mostly due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and we are going to get penalised and fined for the peatlands.

    Someone really needs to grow a pair and tell the EU Commision to sod off and that we are living in very challenging times.

    271
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    Mute Ciaran O'Mara
    Favourite Ciaran O'Mara
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    Sep 30th 2022, 12:24 PM

    @George Vladisavljevic: I disagree. Ireland has broken the law for many years. We were warned in 2011 to stop it. The Commission has been far to slow in enforcing the rules. It is shameful that we won’t protect our own heritage.

    98
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    Mute Alan Kenny
    Favourite Alan Kenny
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    Sep 30th 2022, 12:55 PM

    @Ciaran O’Mara: They have been happy to pay the fine due to VRT. Ah sure why don’t they buy some energy credits. It’s a shambles, designed by people who will never be affected by their policies

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    Mute Peter Donoghue
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    Sep 30th 2022, 2:55 PM

    @Ciaran O’Mara: define what you mean by heritage ?

    19
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    Mute Urban Living Dublin
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    Sep 30th 2022, 3:22 PM

    @Peter Donoghue: natural heritage perhaps? Our greatest sources of biodiversity and largest carbon sinks?

    13
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    Mute Gavin Tobin
    Favourite Gavin Tobin
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    Sep 30th 2022, 6:44 PM

    @George Vladisavljevic: no someone needs to stand up to greedy culchies wrecking SACs

    8
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    Mute Alan Kenny
    Favourite Alan Kenny
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    Sep 30th 2022, 12:21 PM

    Bord Na Monas industrial scale cutting of the bogs has caused this. Now the farmer suffers. Always the way.

    110
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    Mute Dave Barrett
    Favourite Dave Barrett
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    Sep 30th 2022, 1:33 PM

    Keep cutting lads. Centuries old custom of heating dwellings

    107
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    Mute Michael Keegan
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    Sep 30th 2022, 2:32 PM

    @Dave Barrett: when are the disadvantaged in Dublin getting their turf

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    Mute Urban Living Dublin
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    Sep 30th 2022, 3:20 PM

    @Dave Barrett: no more modern amenities for you so. Replace that Avensis with a horse and cart and pull the copper wire out of your house, candles only from now on. And wait, what are you doing on the Journal.ie? Shouldn’t you be sending handwritten letters to the Dublin Penny Journal instead?

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    Mute Peter Donoghue
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    Sep 30th 2022, 2:49 PM

    Friends of Irish Environment (FIE) have little to be at !! .. reporting people . What active activity are they ever engaged in ? .
    As for the EU – We the people of Ireland should have the right to make and enforce our own rules, instead of a band of Nazi’ shoving legislation down our throats

    73
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    Mute Daniel Morrissey
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    Sep 30th 2022, 7:51 PM

    An absolute farce… all about control from the EU.. stop cutting the turf lads.. we need your carbon credits for the data centres…
    Off topic… Will the Italian’s make an attempt at getting out of the EU…

    35
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    Mute Kenny Hyslop
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    Sep 30th 2022, 1:22 PM

    Arrest the people doing it, take their companies, close them down and put them in prison.
    Oh no wait, this is Ireland.
    Do nothing and say you can’t fix it overnight, 12 years later.

    31
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    Mute Ken Red
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    Sep 30th 2022, 8:54 PM

    What ever about people burning for heat, their is also the industrial scale harvesting of peat for gardens in the UK Westfield and others

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