Workers Rally in Dublin for Better Conditions as Ireland Begins EU Presidency

Workers in Ireland's cleaning, security, and catering sectors are set to rally in Dublin on the first day of the country's EU presidency. The demonstration aims to demand improved working conditions and higher wages.

The protest, organized by SIPTU and UNI Europa, the European federation of service sector trade unions, will take place outside the Office of Government Procurement on Mayor Street. Unions emphasize that Ireland's EU presidency positions the government at the forefront of negotiations concerning public procurement reform.

Adrian Kane, SIPTU Services Divisional Organiser, stated, «SIPTU urges the Government to ensure that Ireland's inaugural National Public Procurement Strategy, currently under development by the Office of Government Procurement, incorporates robust worker protections. It must prioritize collective bargaining and fair employment standards in the awarding of public contracts.» Mr. Kane added that public procurement policy directly affects the wages, conditions, and job security of thousands of workers in essential contract services, noting that contracts are frequently awarded based on the lowest cost, often disregarding the welfare of those providing these vital services.

Michala Lafferty, UNI Europa Head of Property Services, highlighted that the forthcoming revision of procurement rules presents an opportunity for EU leaders to significantly improve workers' lives amidst the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. She asserted, «It is the most effective tool to promote collective bargaining so that workers get a real say, fair pay, and good conditions.»