Athboy man elected SIPTU deputy general secretary

Greg Ennis from Athboy was elected as the SIPTU deputy general secretary for the private sector at the union’s Biennial Delegate Conference (BDC) in Galway.

Mr Ennis, who joined the union’s Meath branch 38 years ago, previously served as Manufacturing Division organiser.

At a speech to the BDC, he said that arresting the decline in private sector trade union membership would be his “number one priority” as deputy general secretary.

“We have increased levels of working poor in Ireland, who cannot afford rent, let alone the opportunity to buy a house, so as to raise their families,” he said.

“When the next general election comes around, we must not forget who persisted with these social wrongs, or those currently in power who continue to make choices to inflict social hardship on the most vulnerable in our society.

“Necessary continued public protest and future industrial unrest across the trade union movement will persist while society continues in its current form.

“Almost 115 years ago, our union was founded with the ambition to build a workers republic. Trade unions were the vehicle to improve people’s lives then, and they are still the vehicle to do so today.”

SIPTU general secretary Joe Cunningham commended Mr Ennis alongside defeated candidates Teresa Hannick, Adrian Kane and Karan O’Loughlin for a hard-fought election campaign.