SIPTU want seat on pension board

THE Government was yesterday castigated for its failure to appoint a trade union representative to the board of the National Pensions Reserve Fund.

Jack O'Connor, vice president of the country's biggest union SIPTU, said his union supported the fund set up in 2001 to help fund public service and old age pensions after 2025. But he said the board of the NPRF lacked a voice for the majority of those concerned in its operations.

"It is a crucial issue for all workers and in the Irish public service where over 80% of employees are trade union members, and even across the economy the rate of union membership is 45%. That is remarkable union membership given the huge growth of employment in recent years," Mr O'Connor said.