Swinford man Padraig Peyton has been elected the first honorary president of SIPTU. The Tumgesh, Swinford, native defeated three Dublin based candidates in the recent election which will see him become one of the major players in labour relations matters across the country.
Mr Peyton, who has been based in Sligo for many years, is a psychiatric nurse by profession and previously served as chairman of the SIPTU Health Divisional Committee from 2010 until last year. This role saw him have special responsibilities for Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, and Donegal. In January of this year he became a member of the National Executive of SIPTU and in the time since he has endeared himself to many of the 200,000 strong union.
Mr Peyton, who has also served as chairperson of the Mayo Association in Sligo on three occasions, will replace Jack O’Connor when he retires as president of SIPTU next January. In his role as honorary president Mr Peyton will play a central role in all major negotiations alongside the union’s general secretary.
