TD’s in Government and opposition parties are imploring the Government to resolve the issue of pay parity for staff working in Section 10, Section 39 and Section 56 organisations.
These organisations, such as the Irish Wheelchair Association are funded by the State to provide a range of services in the health and social care sectors.
The staff are members of Forsa Trade Union and voted 99.5% in favour of industrial action. Last month notice was served of intention to go on indefinite strike on October 17th. The staff have not had a pay increase since 2008. Terms and conditions for staff are not equal to those of staff employed by in HSE doing similar work. The lack of parity is making it difficult to recruit and retain staff and is putting services at risk.
Approximately 5,000 staff are involved including staff at the Irish Wheelchair Association service in Tipperary. The government has offered a 5% pay increase but this is not considered sufficient to deliver parity.
The Disability Federation of Irelands warns that if the strike does go ahead it will impact people with disabilities and children. The Federation wants a solution to be found that resolves an inequity that is over a decade old
The Wheel, Ireland’s National Association of Charities, is also calling on the Government to end the ongoing pay disparity of between 10% and 12% which has resulted in a debilitating recruitment and retention crisis, blocking thousands of children and adults from accessing critical mental health, disability, homelessness, and addiction services.
The strike action will take place in the following organisations:• Ardeen Cheshire Ireland
• Ability West
• Cheshire Ireland
• Cheshire Dublin
• Cheshire Home Newcastle West
• Co-action West Cork
• Cobh Hospital
• Daughters Of Charity Child and Family Service
• DePaul Ireland
• Don Bosco Care
• Enable Ireland (nationwide, including Cork, Tralee, East Coast and Midwest regions)
• Family Resource Centres
• Irish Wheelchair Association
• Kerry Parents and Friends
• St. Catherine’s Association Ltd
• St. Josephs Foundation
• St. Luke’s Nursing Home
• Western Care Association
