Sinn Féin spokesperson on Disability and Carers Deputy Pauline Tully has called on the government to engage seriously with SIPTU, Fórsa and INMO, make a fair offer to section 39, section 10 and section 56 workers, and prevent the need for strike action.
The Cavan-Monaghan TD, while addressing the Taoiseach, warned of the serious hardship that will befall families and communities if the government does not do anything to avert this strike action as these are workers who work in frontline services including health, disability, family support, children, care of older people, homelessness, and addiction.
Teachta Tully said:
“On Monday ICTU announced the intention of SIPTU, Fórsa and INMO members to initiate indefinite strike action from 17 October.
“This is as a result of the Government’s ongoing refusal to properly address the pay disparity for section 39, section 10 and section 56 workers.
“It was fairly clear that an offer made by the Government in July fell well below what was expected and would be rejected.
“The Government now has three weeks to engage seriously and make a sufficient offer to the unions to ensure that this issue is dealt with.
“These organisations are haemorrhaging staff to the HSE and section 38 organisations, who have the same pay and conditions as HSE workers.
“They are already curtailing their services because they cannot get staff to provide a full service.
“If this issue is not addressed properly, those services will close and the HSE will have to provide them themselves at a much greater cost.
“The Government must engage seriously, make a fair offer to these workers, and prevent the need for strike action.”
