WRC to hear Siptu official's claim she has been subject to campaign of victimisation

In a statement, a spokesperson for the union said: 'Siptu is vigorously defending the management and staff of the union against all the allegations made'

The Workplace Relations Commission in Waterford is set to hear from a senior Siptu official who claims she has been subjected to a campaign of victimisation by management.

The hearing, due to take place on Thursday in Waterford courthouse, is set to hear details about some of the working conditions in Ireland’s largest union.

The senior official, who has been involved with Siptu for more than three decades, was on the National Executive Council in the 1990s and was a paid union official more than 20 years ago.

In 2021, the woman submitted several protected disclosures to the National Executive Council.

Her case at the WRC is due to hear allegations of wrongdoing within the union which she claims she came across during her work and tried to raise with management.

The Irish Examiner understands that the woman submitted 42 complaints on behalf of five activists in one local authority and several protected disclosures which remain to be independently investigated.

Other claims include that many members of the union confided in the woman that they contemplated suicide over being subjected to bullying and harassment, and that another senior official hired a vulnerable and inexperienced female who was subsequently dismissed unfairly.

The woman claims she was removed from the staff representative council after submitting a protected disclosure to the national executive council.

She has also alleged multiple breaches of employment law, and that some shop stewards encountered difficulties in getting paid for annual leave days and time off.

The woman alleges she has repeatedly raised with management of the union that the procedures for bullying and harassment are inadequate and do not provide for proper protection for workers or effective remedies for victims.

The adjudication hearing is set to involve some management of Siptu.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the union said: "Siptu is vigorously defending the management and staff of the union against all the allegations made."

The Irish Examiner also contacted the woman at the centre of the case but received no reply.