Irish Credit Unions have topped the list for customer experience for the third year in a row.

Unions return to the WRC on Monday, as talks get underway on a pay claim by staff at Irish Rail.

The European Commission and the ECB have slapped the Government’s wrists over its spending of corporate tax windfalls and urged it to resist calls to spend more as part of any “recovery dividend”.

Latest: Trade union Unite, which represents craft workers in Bus Éireann, will also attend the talks tomorrow, but their pickets will remain in place.

Unions have welcomed plans to make sure staff receive tips left by customers in bars and restaurants.

Trade unions have welcomed draft legislation from the Government that will allow them to represent members at the Labour Court even where employers refuse to recognise them for collective bargaining purposes.

Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan says she will not shy away from tough political decisions on student fees before the next Dáil election.

Although Berehaven Credit Union has been forced to close its doors, it’s not a given that others will follow, says Martin Sisk

It may start small with a ceramic ‘cash cow’ or pickle jar, but encouraging your child to save is where the smart money is, according to the Irish League of Credit Unions.

Unions say they will meet with Lufthansa Technik workers after Christmas to discuss whether they will accept the redundancy deal offered by the company

Breakingnews.ie Rugby Correspondent Daniel Pitcher on worries about the collapse of the Heineken Cup.

It now looks certain that the Heineken Cup will continue into next season.

Enda Kenny claimed protesters have blocked people approaching him and obstructed job launches, insisting this was a fundamental change for Irish politics.

The Government should delay ratification of the fiscal treaty to allow the EU time to agree on new growth measures, the country’s most senior union leader has said.

Wales coach Warren Gatland admits the excitement is already building ahead of his side’s Triple Crown tilt against England at Twickenham after completing stage two of a potential sweep of the Home Unions with a 27-13 victory over Scotland in Cardiff yesterday.

UNIONS yesterday suspended their nationwide strike in Nigeria, hours after president Goodluck Jonathan partially reinstated subsidies to keep petrol prices low and deployed soldiers in the streets to halt widening demonstrations.

UNIONS have called for the Government to increase corporation tax to make international companies contribute more to the crippling economy.

Unions angrily attacked the Government today over a report it commissioned which said companies should be able to sack unproductive staff without explanation, warning that the move would “horrify” workers.

CREDIT union leaders have roundly welcomed the Government-appointed co-mmission’s sweeping recommendations, admitting that greater regulation is essential to their future.

Twenty-seven credit unions around the country are in serious financial difficulties and that number will soar in the coming months, it has been warned.

Unions lent their muscle to the long-running protests against Wall Street and economic inequality yesterday, with their members joining thousands of protesters in a lower Manhattan march as smaller demonstrations flourished across the US.

French president Nicolas Sarkozy today sealed his victory in a long-running battle with unions as new retirement rules became law.

A CONTINUATION of the Government’s current “austerity programme” could destroy the Irish economy and kill off any prospects of recovery, the general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has warned.

WEAK credit unions will be exposed in the recession and the sector needs a strong and robust regulatory framework for long term sustainability, the Registrar for Credit Unions James O’Brien said last night.

Credit unions are accusing the Government of "tying their hands" at a time when people need their help most.

THE Financial Regulator has instructed all credit unions to stress test their €7 billion loan books amid growing fears that at least €1.2bn will have to be written off.

Unions said today that hundreds of thousands of Romanian public sector workers will go on strike next week to protest against sweeping wage cuts the government is making to reduce the budget deficit.

Unions lined up tonight to launch vicious attacks on the Government threatening months of angry disputes and strikes over pay cuts.

Unions and Government will go back into talks today aimed at reaching agreement on cuts to the public service pay bill.

Unions insist there is no way to avert Tuesday's public sector strike.

UNIONS will close schools and shut down hospital services for at least a further day after next week’s strike, unless the Government offers guarantees on their members’ pay.

THE Financial Regulator fears there is insufficient emergency funding in place to deal with the collapse of a large credit union.

UNIONS and bodies representing emergency service personnel have demanded an urgent meeting with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ public service committee after a letter leaked from the committee’s chairman appeared to indicate his union was willing to accept cuts in public service jobs in order to protect pay.

THE Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) is to spend €25,000 of members’ funds to finance the cost of sending 12 delegates and five of their spouses to an overseas conference.

Britain's finance industry was dealt another huge blow today with news that Lloyds Banking Group is to axe almost 1,000 jobs.

Unions at Dublin Bus are seeking further discussions on the company's cost cutting plans in a bid to avert potential strike action at the weekend.

Unions at SR Technics are meeting with management this afternoon to discuss concerns about staff pension schemes and redundancy packages.

Mitchelstown Credit Union in Co Cork has today moved to reassure members their money is safe.

UNIONS are hopeful 290 Dublin Bus jobs can be saved, with a report outlining how costs can be cut by changed work practices rather than job losses.

The social partners are getting ready to enter a new set of intensive negotiations on cutbacks in Government spending.

Union representatives have told the Taoiseach that there is widespread anger over the proposed 1% levy on all employees’ income.

UNIONS have demanded a meeting with Taoiseach Brian Cowen to tell him Tuesday’s budget may have scuppered their chances of selling the national wage agreement to members.