Monday 29 August 2011

SIPTU Proud to Support Foyle Pride 2011

SIPTU activists were out on the streets of Derry on Saturday (27th August) supporting the second annual Foyle Pride parade. They joined with thousands of people including trade union and community activists, all united in celebrating diversity and demanding equality for the LGBT community.

SIPTU Lead Organiser Martin O’Rourke said,
“SIPTU were very proud to march at Foyle Pride and it was great to see so many trade union and community activists turn out in support of LGBT rights. The march was a celebration of diversity and equality, but it was also to send a clear message that homophobia and associated attacks are absolutely wrong and will not be tolerated. The thousands who turned out in Derry demonstrated powerful cross community solidarity.”

SIPTU Supports Belfast Pride 2011

We are SIPTU - Tim Smith

Monday 22 August 2011

SIPTU call for better services at Mater A&E for distressed and suicidal persons

SIPTU representatives attended the PIPS (Public Initiative for the Prevention of Suicide and Self harm) silent vigil outside the Mater Hospital on Friday 12th August 2011 calling for better services to be provided to distressed and suicidal people who go to A&E late at night.


SIPTU representative Anne Thompson said,
“We believe too many distressed and suicidal people and their loved ones are paying the ultimate price for failures in the system. As a trade union we strive for a better social wage for all citizens. We are calling upon the Department of Health and Social Services to ensure that appropriate measures are in place to support vulnerable people seeking urgent assistance.”
“In situations like this society does not get a second opportunity to resolve the issue and the systems must be robust enough to support people at their most vulnerable. SIPTU is currently undertaking a Community Sector campaign to ensure organisations like PIPS secure necessary funding to continue their vital work into the future.”

SIPTU give voice to the Community

As part of their ‘communities uniting’ campaign in the north, SIPTU are giving voice to community workers through an online series of interviews, ‘We are SIPTU.’

The series of interviews will be continually updated to YouTube, allowing people to easily access and get an insight into the everyday work of community activists, the services they provide, and the cuts facing projects. To access the interviews click on the following link;





SIPTU Lead Organiser Martin O’Rourke said,

“I encourage people to watch, follow and promote the ‘We are SIPTU’ interviews. We are giving voice to community activists, allowing people to hear their story, and get an insight into the vital work they carry out daily. They also focus on the very serious cuts facing and indeed being imposed on projects currently.”

“The interview series has a constant message running through it that if we organise and work together through a trade union, then we can defend our community services from the full onslaught of ideological driven cuts facing us.”

We are SIPTU - Richard Long