Jimmy Somers

Born in Cabra, Dublin, Somers became active in the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union (ITGWU), soon being elected as a branch secretary,Mary Raftery, "[http://www.politico.ie/index.php/village-archive/components/?option=com_content&view=article&id=5560:labours-legacy&catid=108:magill-politics&Itemid=577 Labour's Legacy]", 1 December 1983 and leading the party delegation to Dublin Trades Council.

Somers also became active in the Labour Party, in which he was a leading supporter of Michael O'Leary. He stood for the party in Dublin North-West at the 1973 Irish general election, then in Dublin Central at the 1981 Irish general election and the November 1982 Irish general election, but was not elected on any occasion. He finally stood at the 1983 Dublin Central by-election,"[https://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=3019 James Somers]", Elections Ireland at which he took Labour's worst ever result in the constituency.

In 1990, the ITGWU became part of the new SIPTU (Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union), and in 1994 Somers became the union's Vice President, in which position he played a key role in negotiating partnership agreements with the government. In 1997, he was narrowly elected as President of SIPTU, retiring two years later to serve on the Labour Court and Labour Relations Commission.Roisin Burke, "[http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/jimmy-somers-26586588.html Jimmy Somers]", Irish Independent, 29 November 2009

Somers also served as Treasurer of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions from 1999 to 2001."ICTU Constitution and Standing Orders", p.37

He died on 12 January 2024, in the Mater Hospital, Dublin, at the age of 84.{{cite news |title=Obituary: Jimmy Somers, trade unionist who successfully fought for better public-sector pay and contested elections for Labour Party |url=https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/obituary-jimmy-somers-trade-unionist-who-successfully-fought-for-better-public-sector-pay-and-contested-elections-for-labour-party/a1075760241.html |access-date=21 January 2024 |publisher=Irish Independent |date=21 January 2024}}

{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-npo|union}}

{{s-new|office}}

{{s-ttl|title = Vice President of SIPTU

|years = 1994–1997}}

{{s-aft|after = Des Geraghty}}

{{s-bef|before = Edmund Browne}}

{{s-ttl|title = General President of SIPTU

|years = 1997–1999}}

{{s-aft|after = Des Geraghty}}

{{s-bef|before = Bill Attley}}

{{s-ttl|title = Treasurer of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions

|years = 1999–2001}}

{{s-aft|after = John McDonnell}}

{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Somers, Jimmy}}

Category:1939 births

Category:2024 deaths

Category:Trade unionists from Dublin (city)

Category:Labour Party (Ireland) candidates in Dáil elections