It followed a ballot collected on Monday…
SIPTU members employed by Section 39 organisations providing health and care services across the country have voted by 97% in favour of commencing strike action, beginning with a one day stoppage on Wednesday, 14 February.
It means that thousands of employees in state-funded health and social care organisations will cease work on this date.
More stoppages are expected to be announced following this initial action.
SIPTU members in the following organisations have voted for strike action; Rehab Ireland, the Cheshire Foundation, Western Care in County Mayo, St Joseph’s Foundation in County Cork, SOS Kilkenny, Ability West, Wicklow Community and Family Services, SOS Workshops and Marymount University Hospital and Hospice, Curraheen, County Cork.
SIPTU said that Section 39 organisations received similar pay cuts to those in the public sector and that contrary to those in the public sector, they had not been offered pay restoration proposals.
Speaking on the decision for industrial action, SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said: “Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has previously confirmed that there is a long established pay link between Section 39 organisations and public sector employers.
“He must now intervene in this dispute and ensure that Section 39 organisations are adequately resourced in order to facilitate the implementation of the outstanding Labour Court recommendations concerning this issue and allow for local negotiation to commence on pay restoration.”
Main image via Twitter
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