SIPTU and the Union of Students in Ireland are close to agreement on joint provision of services to members, according to SIPTU general secretary Mr John McDonnell. If the agreement is concluded the respective presidents of SIPTU and USI would address each others' conferences. USI, with 250,000 members, is larger than SIPTU, which has 191,662. However, USI membership tends to be more transient.
SIPTU has also concluded an agreement with NUI Galway to provide an Open Learning centre for the union's members. Welcoming the agreement, executive member Ms Nuala Keher said the union "must not fear diversity or change".