The government must agree a clear pathway to restoring pay parity for Section 39 workers in community and voluntary organisations, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide.
Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s acting spokesperson on disability, said:
“With up to 5,000 Section 39 workers expected to vote in favour of strike action, some of the most vulnerable members of our communities, including disabled people and the elderly, are facing the prospect of disruption to their service provision.
“Given the crucial role that Section 39 workers play in providing a range of essential healthcare services, such as home care, it is only right that they should have the same pay and conditions as HSE employees. Lower pay in the sector is also creating significant recruitment and staff retention difficulties.
“Section 39 workers argue that a pay agreement struck at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in October 2023 has not been honoured. In addition to an eight per cent pay rise, this deal included a commitment to work towards ending the pay disparity between the public sector and community/voluntary bodies.
“Significantly, there is no specific reference to restoring pay parity for Section 39 workers in the programme for government, which has brought us to the brink of potentially disruptive industrial action for the second time in less than two years.
“It is completely unacceptable that these workers are once again forced to consider striking after repeated betrayals in relation to their pay.
“Minister for Disability Norma Foley must use every possible industrial relations lever to avert strike action, and agree a clear pathway to pay parity for Section 39 workers.”
February 27, 2025