IWU Cork Branch

29/07/2026

Last Friday, on the 24th of July, members of the Dublin & Eastern Area Branch of the Independent Workers Union, visited numerous security officers around Dublin city centre as part of the campaign to highlight International Security Officers Day, which was inspired by similar campaigns that were launched in Australia.

The main message of the campaign was centred on the need for security officers to receive proper training, support and respect from employers especially for instances of assault and racism that security officers often face in their line of work, and compliance with legislation around TUPE and the Employment Regulation Order.

International Security Officers Day serves as a reminder to the security industry, that its workers are human beings that deserve respect and dignity in the workplace who dedicate long hours to ensure the safety of workplaces, and not simply as cogs that churn out profits for security companies.

Members of the union also highlighted the recent victories of security officers formerly of BGS Security who were awarded compensation of over €100 thousand in total of unpaid wages.

The need to rebuild a militant trade union movement is more important than ever, and security officers will play a crucial role in fulfilling this task.

As Jim Larkin once said, “The great appear great because we are on our knees. Let us rise!”

08/07/2026

THE HSE PROMISED HCAs PAY PARITY. They still haven't fulfilled that promise despite the economy booming.

After the recession cuts to public wages, healthcare workers were told you'll be given a pay rise in the future and they were: nurses, therapists, everyone up the chain got their raise but healthcare assistants were left behind, told to wait, told to be patient, told their work wasn't worth the same as others. BUT THEY HAD ENOUGH

Since January, Northside HCAs have been on strike. Not asking or begging but demanding pay parity using the withdrawal of their labour. With €3,000 raised at their July fundraiser from family and friends, they're ready to carry on this fight.

Northside Strikers have a clear message to management and the HSE: You gave it to the others. You'll give it to us because we're united, we're organized, and we're not going anywhere.

VICTORY TO THE NORTHSIDE STRIKERS!

07/07/2026

THEY TRICKED. WE FOUGHT. THEY PAID.

For months, BGS Security thought they got away with not paying our members, dodging wages, hiding behind fake excuses. They counted on us being confused. They counted on us being quiet.

They were wrong.

Because of union pressure, not polite requests, workers cheated by BGS has now been made whole. In full.

This wasn’t a gift. This wasn’t good will. This was workers standing together, refusing to back down, and forcing BGS to answer for their theft.

Let’s be clear: BGS didn’t have a change of heart. They had a change of calculation. They realized we knew their playbook and we had the strength to shut it down.

This victory belongs to every worker who spoke up, who stayed solid, and who refused to let BGS divide them. That’s the union difference. That’s what solidarity looks like in action.

Now we stay sharp. They’ll try again. They always do. But next time, they’ll know, we don’t beg. We don’t wait. We organize. We act. We win.

01/07/2026

What do we want?
PAY PARITY!
When do want it?
NOW!

23/06/2026

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/trade-union-day-school-tickets-1984957090090

ALL UNION MEMBERS & FRIENDS OF THE UNION ARE WELCOME TO OUR ANNUAL DAY SCHOOL!

Session 1 will take place from 11am - 1pm, it will take place with David Gibney, the former Comms officer for Mandate Trade Union and spokesperson for Right2Water will concentrate on the state of the trade union movement, where it's coming from and where it's going. Half of the session is a presentation, the other half is discussion/question and answers based.

Session 2 will take place from 3pm - 5pm.

Dr John Carty (former Mandate Divisional Organiser) will focus on the 'why' behind why workers in different jobs take action (or don't) for their collective interest. This concept is often referred to as 'mobilisation theory'.

There will be a q&a section at the conclusion of the discussion.

The final session from 5pm - 7pm will focus on experiences by our members in trying to unionise their workplaces and the exploitation, abuse and pushback they faced from their employers.

The speakers will include a Tesco worker, a Northside Homecare worker, a Saint Vincent De Paul worker and a security officer (names withheld for safety from employer reprisal).

The IWU is hosting a Trade Union Day school spread across three separate sessions concerning different topics. Come along, listen and debate

11/06/2026

The Independent Workers' Union CONDEMNS the decision by Pat McDonnell Paints to SACK our member for alleged gross misconduct. Wearing an Easter Lily badge.

The company, which does not have a policy on badges/accessories on uniforms took the dramatic step to dismiss our member on the basis that refusing to take off a badge constituted gross misconduct.

We reject the assertion that being dismissed for wearing a badge is reasonable or proportionate and will be challenging it.

We demand the reinstatement of our member.

We call on all progressive organisations in Dublin to join our call for Cian's reinstatement and ask shoppers to shop with their conscience.

END.

03/06/2026

The HSE tells us they outsource to "Private and voluntary providers" to "Cover the areas the HSE can't reach". THIS IS A SMOKESCREEN. The HSE is choosing to funnel public money from working-class wages to private bank accounts through a middleman.

September 2025: the HSE admits it increased the rates for home support providers to €32.73 per hour. Meanwhile the actual healthcare assistant is lucky to see €14-16 of that. WHERE DOES THE OTHER €18 GO?

The "Providers". These private companies are parasites. Refusing to pass on the 9.25% pay agreement. Pocketing the difference. BUT THE HSE? They sign the cheques. They set the rates. They could employ every homecare worker directly tomorrow. Pay carers €25+. THEY WON'T.

Consider one worker. 35 hours/week. 46 weeks/year.
- At €15/hour (Private Providers): €24,150
- At €25/hour (Direct HSE Employment using part of Middleman Fee): €40,250
THAT'S €16,100 STOLEN PER WORKER. PER YEAR.

02/06/2026

Our healthcare assistants are back out on strike for the sixth time to press their demand for pay parity against an employer who refuses to engage and a HSE who turns a blind eye.

Come out and support them outside Leinster house on the 10th June from 10am ❗️

26/05/2026

Have you ever been told to remove a badge from your uniform at work before?

25/05/2026

300,000 retail workers in Ireland. Less than 10% are in a union.

Let that sink in.

That means most of you don't have the power to negotiate real improvements with your employer. Instead, you're left hoping they'll just treat you with basic respect. That's a power problem created by social partnership and no strike clauses.

And here's the thing: you don't wish or shout worker power into existence. You organise it. One conversation at a time. Till to till. Break room to break room. Do that enough, and you stop being just a number to your boss. You become something much harder to ignore: a real, organised structure.

So let's fix that 10% problem. Not just by changing laws or holding protests but by changing the real number that counts: how many of us are in.

One shop. One new member at a time. Join the IWU today.