SIPTU gains 15,000 non-national members over 18 months

THE country’s largest union has gained 15,000 members from the growing number of foreign nationals working here in the last 18 months.

SIPTU general secretary Joe O’Flynn said the issue of exploitation of foreign workers and evidence of falling pay rates in certain sectors must be addressed in the upcoming talks on a new social partnership agreement.

The union will hold a special conference next Tuesday at which the national executive will recommend to delegates that it should enter these negotiations. The Government invited the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) to talks a fortnight ago, but the support of SIPTU with its 200,000-plus members would be vital for the strength of the wider union movement.