The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation is the oldest and largest teachers’ trade union in Ireland. It represents 40,633 teachers at primary level in the Republic of Ireland and 7,086 teachers at primary and post-primary level in Northern Ireland. Total membership is 47,719 (August 2019).

INTO campaigns for professional salaries and conditions of service. INTO has a strong reputation for representing members, and secured agreements about handling complaints, combating bullying and promoting positive workplaces. 

Member campaigns such as “Room to Bloom” and “Stand up for Primary Education” have secured thousands of additional teaching jobs despite tight budget conditions.

Support networks for LGBT teachers and for Separated Teachers are provided, and INTO has a Global Solidarity Network for teachers interested in global education/union issues.

You can join INTO at here.

The ASTI is Ireland's main second level teachers union and represents 17,500 teachers in community schools, community colleges, comprehensive schools and voluntary secondary schools attended by 80% of all second-level students.

Included among their members are class teachers, school principals, deputy-principals, assistant principals, special duties teachers, temporary teachers, part-time teachers, home-school liaison teachers, guidance counsellors, learning support teachers and resource teachers.

The union represents teachers in voluntary secondary schools, community schools, comprehensive schools and community colleges.

The objects and aims of the ASTI are to promote second-level education, to unite and organise all second-level teachers, to promote and protect teachers' interests, and to maintain and improve teachers' conditions of employment.

Membership is free for student teachers and you can join ASTI here.

The Teachers' Union of Ireland is a Trade Union organising teachers and lecturers in Ireland engaged in post-primary, higher and further education. TUI represents over 19,000 members in the education service. The Union is made up of 62 Branches in 19 Areas.

TUI is a unified and democratic body but one with a very diverse membership. TUI members are to be found in Vocational Schools, Community Colleges, Community and Comprehensive Schools, Educate Together and other Post Primary Schools. TUI members also form the largest single body of third level lecturers in Ireland working in Institutes of Technology/Technological University Dublin.

TUI membership is free for student teachers and you can fill out an application form here.

IFUT represents academic staff in universities around Ireland.

Those eligible for membership are: university teachers; researchers; staff in professional library, computer and administrative posts; and higher technicians in some institutions, part- and full-time and temporary and permanent.

The DCU branch of IFUT can be contacted at dcu@ifut.ie

You can sign up for IFUT here.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation is the largest Irish professional union for nurses and midwives with 35,000 members.

Student section members can avail of a number of services such as: 24 hour legal helpline, access to discounted educational courses, INMO rewards/discounts, plus access to INMO's Online Library, offering you access to 100s of full text nursing/midwifery journals, including full access to the latest nursing databases. They offer free Interview Skills to all of our 4th Year membership onsite. A platform to voice issues which are affecting you and your colleagues, directly to the INMO. All student section members have the opportunity to avail of free Rep training, which looks great on any CV.

Being a member of the student section is a great way to make friends with other students from different colleges/universities around the country and internationally.

Catherine O’Connor is the INMO’s Student Officer and can be contacted at catherine.oconnor@INMO.ie

Undergraduate student nurses can join INMO for free here.

The Psychiatric Nurses Association of Ireland is the major registered trade union for nurses working in Mental Health, Intellectual Disability and other Specialist Services, aiming to enhance the standing of nursing. 

The PNA represents over 6000 nurses and is a member led and member driven union.

Membership is free for students. You can join here.

MEDICAL SCIENTEST

The Medical Laboratory Scientists Association is the sole trade union representing over 1600 Medical Scientists in Ireland who provide laboratory services to Health Service Executive and Public Voluntary Hospitals, Private Hospitals and laboratories, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service and Universities in Ireland.

SIPTU is the largest trade union on the island of Ireland.

Almost 200,000 workers from the public, private and not for profit sectors stand together for fairness at work and justice in society. SIPTU provides the expertise, experience and back-up services necessary to assist workers in their dealings with employers, government and industrial relations institutions.

SIPTU’s primary divisions are: Health, Manufacturing, Public Administration/Community, Services, Transport/Energy/Aviation/Construction and these have sub-sectors who campaign in various areas. 

DCU employees can get in touch with DCU’s SIPTU Section Committee at section.committee@dcu.ie 

You can join SIPTU here.

Mandate is a union of over 40,000 primarily retail, bar and administrative workers across Ireland.

Their members join together where they work to protect and improve conditions of employment. It is often necessary for them to join together so that the companies thee work for take them seriously on issues that concern them such as decent hours, pay rates, job security and fair treatment.

Mandate offers support and advice on how you and your co-workers can form a union in your own workplace.

You can join Mandate here.

Unite represents workers in Britain and Ireland with members working across all sectors of the economy.

Together they make up over a million members across 19 private, public and voluntary sectors including manufacturing, public services, transport, food, finance and construction.

There are dozens of reasons to join a union, but ultimately, it comes down to protecting your rights in the workplace. Unite trade union works hard to ensure all workers have the right representation in their workplace, as well as making your voice heard in Government debate and decision-making.

Unite have international organising power in a variety of sectors. You can learn more and sign up here.

Fórsa is Ireland’s newest trade union with over 80,000 members.

The union was formed as a merger of IMPACT, the Civil, Public and Services Union (CPSU), and the Public Service Executive Union (PSEU).

Fórsa represents members in the public service, as well as the commercial sector, state agencies, some private companies and in the community and voluntary sector.
Fórsa has the following divisions: Civil Service, Education, Health/Welfare, Local Government/Local Services, Municipal and Services/Enterprises. 

You can join Fórsa here.

RENTERS, COUNCIL TENANTS, MORTGAGE HOLDERS, THOSE IN EMERGENCY & PRECARIOUS LIVING SITUATIONS, AND ANYONE WHO DOES NOT MAKE PROFIT FROM HOUSING

UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE

CATU Ireland (Community Action Tenants Union) is a union for people outside of their workplaces. CATU want to take the basic ideas of membership, collective direct action, and grassroots democracy from where people work to where they live.

CATU is for renters, council tenants, mortgage holders, those in emergency & precarious living situations, and anyone who does not make profit from housing. 
CATU’s Phibsboro-Glasnevin branch covers the DCU area and more information is available about their work here.

You can join CATU here.

The INOU is a federation of unemployed people, unemployed centres, unemployed groups, community organisations and Trade Unions.

The INOU represents and defends the rights and interests of those who want decent employment and cannot obtain it. They promote and campaign for policies to achieve full employment for all.

They also campaign for an acceptable standard of living for unemployed people and their dependents. The INOU is an anti-sectarian, anti-racist, non-party political organisation which promotes equality of opportunity within society.

Membership is free for unemployed persons but employed persons are also invited to join as solidarity members here.

The Financial Services Union is the leading trade union representing staff in the financial services sector.

They have approximately 15,000 members located in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Their members share common values – a commitment to decency, fairness and respect in our workplaces.

They support thousands of members building their career in the financial services sector – in banks, fintech companies, the life assurance sector and specialist support firms.

You can join FSU at here.

The National Union of Journalists is the voice for journalists and journalism.

The NUJ is an inclusive union and represents a broad range of media professionals. They strive to improve the pay and conditions of our members and protect and promote media freedom, professionalism and ethical standards. The NUJ is an active union – their members campaign and negotiate to ensure we are properly rewarded for the skilled work they do.

Information on student NUJ membership is available here.