SIPTU Launches Unpaid Wages Action

One of the Irish state's largest unions, SIPTU has announced a protest at the City Hall in Galway over unpaid wages for construction workers.

SIPTU said the action is to highlight the fact that Oliver Donlon Developments was continuing to secure publicly funded contracts, including the construction of the Menlough Group Water scheme for the County Council in east Galway, despite failing to pay some of its workers.

“Our members have been denied their wages and holiday pay by Oliver Donlon Developments for several months. We have lodged a complaint with the Labour Court but we also intend to highlight the fact that this rogue employer is still able to secure publicly funded contracts while he leaves his employees without the means to look after their families,” said SIPTU Branch Organiser, Henry O’Shea.

The union said twenty members of SIPTU still owed monies by the company have been laid off in recent months.

The company has ignored a determination by the Construction Industry Disputes Tribunal (CIDT), which has recommended that the company implement appropriate rates agreed under the Registered Employment Agreement (REA) for the industry, and to pay the outstanding amounts owed to SIPTU members.

“This is the fifth occasion in the past 12 months where the company has failed to meet its obligations to pay employees’ wages and other entitlements,” Mr O'Shea added.

On Monday, SIPTU also launched a campaign against Government plans to cut the national minimum wage.

The union said it was publishing a document outlining how the Government plans to reduce the incomes of workers whose pay is set by Employment Rights orders.

SIPTU's Patricia King said this means the lowest paid could have their pay cut even further.

(DW/BMcC)