SINN Fein councillor for Newcastle West, Seamus Browne, has welcomed an initiative by SIPTU to organise Credit Union workers in County Limerick.
Responding to news that SIPTU’s Strategic Organising Department has put a dedicated team in place to organise credit union workers in the West Limerick region, Cllr Browne pointed out that credit unions are a “vital resource” for local communities.
He told the Limerick Post this week that they make an invaluable contribution to the local economy, with credit union employees “at the heart of all of this good work”.
“Right now there is a major push towards mergers and amalgamations in the sector. It’s essential that all credit union employees are organised in a trade union so that their interests will be taken into account before new structures and working arrangements are finalised. Being in a trade union also makes it much easier to negotiate a pay rise,” said Cllr Browne.
He also believes that having a collective voice for credit union employees and access to professional representation can make all the difference.
“Credit Unions are unique because they are vested in the local communities that they serve. I understand that being in a union is the norm for most of the credit unions in Limerick City.
“I’m glad to see that SIPTU are taking this initiative to ensure that the vital interests of those working in credit unions in the county are protected,” he concluded.
