In a salary dispute, SIPTU-member healthcare workers in Section 39 groups have decisively voted in favour of going on strike, reports RTE.
On a 70% turnout, the voting result revealed 96% in support of action.
Section 39 organisations are privately held nonprofits and government-awarded healthcare service providers, reports RTE.
Thousands of employees from 21 organisations nationwide, including the Disability Federation of Ireland and the Rehab Group, are participating in the strike action.
SIPTU stated that it will use the mandate it has been granted to attend Monday’s Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) negotiations in order to settle the conflict, reports RTE.
The government is being accused by the union of not upholding a salary deal that was reached at the WRC in October 2023.
A pledge to work on re-establishing the wage link between the public sector and the community and volunteer sector was part of the agreement.
“The mandate from our membership for industrial action on this issue is strong and clear,” said SIPTU Sector Organiser Damian Ginley, reports RTE.
“The ball is now firmly in the hands of the Government. It has an opportunity to do the right thing for our members when employer representatives and unions meet for talks on this dispute at the WRC on Monday,” Mr Ginley said, reports RTE.
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Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, Mr. Ginley stated that the union wants the government to inform their negotiators that they have the authority to fully execute the deal starting in 2023.
When asked what it would take to end industrial action, Mr. Ginley stated that the government would need to make a “strong commitment” that it is treating the issue seriously.
“We have a strong mandate from our members as a result of the failure of Government to implement the agreement from 2023,” he said, reports RTE.
“They have waited a long time, so there has to be a very strong commitment from Government on Monday to allow us progress this matter,” reports RTE.
Martha Buckley, a SIPTU activist and Section 39 worker, stated that they are ready to go on strike if the government fails them once again.
“Such action will have an adverse impact on client services and is the last thing that our members wish to undertake,” Ms Buckley said, reports RTE.
“However, without action now, our organisations do not have a future as workers are being forced to seek employment elsewhere due to a lack of adequate pay,” she added, reports RTE.
While many of the Section 39 groups engaged in this conflict favour their employees receiving higher wages, they maintain that the government must provide the cash.
In addition, they would like to see broader financial concerns that extend beyond compensation addressed, reports RTE.
A strategy to address the challenges was presented to Cabinet earlier this month by Norma Foley, Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality.
Hours before a 5,000-worker walkout was scheduled to start in October 2023, a salary deal was struck with community and volunteer sector employees, reports RTE.
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