browne became active in the irish transport and general workers' union (itgwu), and was elected as vice president in 1983, defeating des geraghty by a margin which surprised his supporters. in 1990, the itgwu merged with the workers' union of ireland to form siptu (services, industrial, professional and technical union), and browne was elected as joint general president alongside bill attley. attley later became general secretary, and browne held the post alone until his retirement in 1998.