Connect is a

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ...

representing construction, electrical, and technical workers in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the s ...

History

The union came into existence in 2001, when it was named the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU). It arose from an amalgamation between the Electrical Trades Union and the

National Engineering and Electrical Trades Union The National Engineering and Electrical Trade Union (NEETU) was a trade union representing engineering workers in Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in north-western Europe. It is ...

. Both unions could trace their origins to 1920 when union activists in British based unions believed Irish workers needed autonomous representation in the emerging Irish state. In 2016, members of the

Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians The Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT) was a British and Irish trade union, operating in the construction industry. It was founded in 1971, and merged into Unite on 1 January 2017. It was affiliated to the Trades U ...

based in

transferred to the TEEU. In 2018, the union changed its name to "Connect".

Remit

The union represents a broad range of workers throughout industry and public service. It includes craftworkers,

technicians A technician is a worker in a field of technology who is proficient in the relevant skill and technique, with a relatively practical understanding of the theoretical principles. Specialisation The term technician covers many different speciali ...

, skilled operatives, general workers, technical, administration, and supervisory staff. The TEEU is the largest engineering union in Ireland and the second largest in manufacturing, representing up to 40,000 workers.

General Secretaries

:1997: Owen Wills :2010: Eamon Devoy :2016: Paddy Kavanagh

References

External links

Official website
{{Irish Congress of Trade Unions Trade unions in the Republic of Ireland Trade unions established in 1992 1992 establishments in Ireland