Kilkenny Council of Trade Unions

18/10/2023

The international community has taken precisely zero concrete actions to defend Palestinians or to help them win their freedom and self-determination.

18/10/2023

Each Member – Executive Council
Affiliates ROI & NI
Trades Councils
Associate Members


Colleagues,
Link for demonstrations in solidarity with Palestine in the coming days.

Following a discussion at the Executive Council meeting today, please see the link for demonstrations for your information
https://www.ipsc.ie/protest/emergency-protests-for-palestine-around-ireland

We would be grateful if you could circulate widely amongst your networks and encourage a good attendance at these events.

Regards,
Owen Reidy
General Secretary

05/09/2023

Welcome acceptance of WRC proposals. From SIPTU.ie Website.

SIPTU suspends Retained Fire Fighters strike following WRC offer
Date Released: 17 August 2023
Late night talks (Wednesday, August 16th) at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) have resulted in an offer of improved terms for Retained Fire Fighters in a bid to resolve the current strike. As a result, SIPTU has decided to suspend strike action while these terms are considered and voted upon.

SIPTU Public Administration and Community Divisional Organiser, Karan O Loughlin, said: "It was a long and difficult day yesterday with discussions continuing into the early hours of this morning. Eventually, enough progress was made to develop a document that could be put to members for consideration. The wording of the document will be finalised by the WRC shortly, but the heads of agreement tackle the core issue of pay security for fire fighters.

"On foot of a request from the WRC, and to allow members time to consider the document, the union has agreed that the industrial action and strike action will be suspended pending consultation and voting on the proposals.

"As well as dealing with core pay, the overall proposals provided more value for fire fighters and made adjustments for new recruits to assist with the recruitment problem. Under the terms, new recruits would now enter the service with guaranteed minimum earnings of over €18,000 and would move to the increments faster than is currently the case. In addition, the guaranteed earnings for fire fighters with more than 8 years of service would be over €21,500.

"If the deal is agreed, station officers will have secure minimum earnings of between €27,400 and €31,730. Other relevant conditions in respect to the filling of promotional positions and the hiring of 400 new recruits remain intact, as does the reduction of a requirement to be available from 48 weeks to 24 weeks with an option to be available more frequently on a voluntary basis.

"This is a good first step in our campaign to rebuild the Retained Fire Service and, if this proposal is acceptable to our members, we will move to the second phase of the campaign. This will take place at the public service talks where the minister, Darragh O'Brien, will be tasked with continuing to build the retainer. The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) and SIPTU would then set about delivering the policies agreed, such as local authority hiring practices for Retained Fire Fighters, sick pay, other types of statutory leave, retirement age and social protection." SIPTU Sector Organiser, Brendan O'Brien, said: "It has been clear for some time now that the rebuilding of the Retained Fire Service would be a two-step process. This first step provides, for the very first time, guaranteed income for Retained Fire Fighters. This would give us the correct direction of travel for the future, while ensuring that the work-life balance is also addressed.

"The proposal on the table has a built-in review every six months to ensure that the recruitment mechanisms stay on course and the policies are rolled out in good time. It has been an arduous process for Retained Fire Fighters. Their resilience and determination in this dispute is to be admired."

The Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union represents over 180,000 workers - Join a community of workers who stand up for their rights - join SIPTU

18/08/2023

SIPTU suspends Retained Fire Fighters strike following WRC offer
Date Released: 17 August 2023
Late night talks (Wednesday, August 16th) at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) have resulted in an offer of improved terms for Retained Fire Fighters in a bid to resolve the current strike. As a result, SIPTU has decided to suspend strike action while these terms are considered and voted upon.
SIPTU Public Administration and Community Divisional Organiser, Karan O Loughlin, said: "It was a long and difficult day yesterday with discussions continuing into the early hours of this morning. Eventually, enough progress was made to develop a document that could be put to members for consideration. The wording of the document will be finalised by the WRC shortly, but the heads of agreement tackle the core issue of pay security for fire fighters.

"On foot of a request from the WRC, and to allow members time to consider the document, the union has agreed that the industrial action and strike action will be suspended pending consultation and voting on the proposals.

"As well as dealing with core pay, the overall proposals provided more value for fire fighters and made adjustments for new recruits to assist with the recruitment problem. Under the terms, new recruits would now enter the service with guaranteed minimum earnings of over €18,000 and would move to the increments faster than is currently the case. In addition, the guaranteed earnings for fire fighters with more than 8 years of service would be over €21,500.

"If the deal is agreed, station officers will have secure minimum earnings of between €27,400 and €31,730. Other relevant conditions in respect to the filling of promotional positions and the hiring of 400 new recruits remain intact, as does the reduction of a requirement to be available from 48 weeks to 24 weeks with an option to be available more frequently on a voluntary basis.

"This is a good first step in our campaign to rebuild the Retained Fire Service and, if this proposal is acceptable to our members, we will move to the second phase of the campaign. This will take place at the public service talks where the minister, Darragh O'Brien, will be tasked with continuing to build the retainer. The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) and SIPTU would then set about delivering the policies agreed, such as local authority hiring practices for Retained Fire Fighters, sick pay, other types of statutory leave, retirement age and social protection." SIPTU Sector Organiser, Brendan O'Brien, said: "It has been clear for some time now that the rebuilding of the Retained Fire Service would be a two-step process. This first step provides, for the very first time, guaranteed income for Retained Fire Fighters. This would give us the correct direction of travel for the future, while ensuring that the work-life balance is also addressed.

"The proposal on the table has a built-in review every six months to ensure that the recruitment mechanisms stay on course and the policies are rolled out in good time. It has been an arduous process for Retained Fire Fighters. Their resilience and determination in this dispute is to be admired."

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WRC2021

11/08/2023

Forsa Ballot on industrial Action to protect jobs.

Our members voted in favour of:
-NO to stealth privatisation
-NO to unfair recruitment pause for just these roles
-NO to millions for external consultants while direct staff posts lay vacant. Read more here:

Staff move will initially involve ban on voluntary overtime and not co-operating with a range of internal reporting functions

02/08/2023

Following on from the success of last year, Kilkenny City will see its second National Services Day Blue Light Parade and Static Display on Saturday, September 2. Kicking off at 1pm and entering the city via the Castlecomer Road, it will be a spectacle not to be missed as do...

02/08/2023

Kilkenny County Council Management are currently putting lives at risk by failing to agree contingency plans with Retained Firefighters Union SIPTU.
Press Release
Fire service management is to blame for chaotic scenes in fire stations nationwide, says SIPTU
Date Released: 27 July 2023
SIPTU representatives have said today (Friday, 28th July) that fire service management must take sole responsibility for the chaotic scenes seen in fire stations around the country following the commencement of strike action in the retained fire service.
SIPTU Public Administration and Community Divisional Organiser, Karan O’Loughlin, said: “There appears to be a general strategy of non-cooperation on the management side from the get-go of this dispute. Phone calls are not being answered when firefighters call the station from the scenes of incidents, and management is not deploying the required number of appliances to incidents. This is unacceptable. SIPTU retained fire fighters are on strike and have been engaged in hours of talks with management locally to ensure there is a reliable system of emergency cover, but they just can’t get cooperation from the management side. This is putting lives at risk.”

“Our members are coming off picket lines to manage life-threatening incidents and being pressurised to take responsibilities above and beyond the call of duty because management refuses to take responsibility. This cannot continue, and it will result in a backlash from firefighters who will not be able to continue to provide the same level of universal cover without the involvement of management grades. This means that emergency cover can no longer be provided from every station.”

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Brendan O’Brien, said: “The job of the retained fire fighters is hard enough without this kind of irresponsible behaviour from the management side. This ‘head in the sand’ approach will only harden attitudes and make the resolution of this dispute more difficult. It is time now that the Government take the emphasis off their own holidays and focus their minds on resolving this dispute. This level of disregard for the retained fire fighters is beyond disgraceful.”

03/07/2023

Ger Mooney

I've been a Trade Union member since 1979. 17 years as a Shop Steward and Full- Time Union Official since 2017 with Connect Trade Union, based in Waterford representing our members in the South east.
At Kilkenny Council of Trade Unions we discuss workplace issues Union organisation and help to find solutions to matters of importance to our members across all Unions.

03/07/2023

Eileen Moyles

03/07/2023

If anyone can support this Campaign in Waterford at the Granville Hotel on Monday July 10th 11:00-1:00

The Pension Promise Campaign was launched on 19 June 2023, with public meetings scheduled in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Monaghan and Waterford. The campaign is led by a coalition of Active Retirement Ireland, SIPTU, Age Action,