Siptu is to donate €250,000 towards the Irish Congress of Trade Union's (ICTU) reflief fund initiative in the Indian Ocean.
The union's National Executive Council agreed the donation this morning. Siptu's General Secretary Mr Joe O'Flynn said the funds are intended for a long-term effort to reconstruct and restore communities shattered by the disaster and help the thousands of people left without the means to make a living.
The Ictu initiative announced yesterday by secretary general Mr David Begg is primarily aimed at helping people affected by the tsunami restore their livelihoods, mainly in fishing, tourism and other industries. Funds will also go towards rebuilding essential infrastructure.
The Siptu donation will go into a central Congress fund and agencies working on the ground will be invited to submit proposals for programmes focusing on livelihood restoration. An evaluation committee will then allocate funding to the most effective projects.
Sitpu's Mr Flynn, who is also treasurer of Ictu, said that while many workers have already personally contributed to the many national and regional relief funds set up, he hoped many more will back the Congress initiative .
Yesterday Ictu requested a 'modest' contribution from workers. Members have the option of deducting a sum, such as half an hour's pay for example, from their wages at the end of January, with the co-operation of employers. Ictu general secretary Mr David Begg said the potential is significant as there are 1.8 million people at work in Ireland.