“We cannot be let down again” - SIPTU workers in Mayo vote for strike action

SIPTU members employed in a number of Section 39 organisations providing services to those with disabilities, the elderly and other vulnerable groups have voted overwhelming by 96 percent to 4 percent for strike action in order to force a resolution to a long-running pay dispute. The ballot was counted today (Thursday, February 27) in SIPTU offices around the country. The organisations affected include Mayo based Western Care and national organisations like the Rehab Group who have branches in Mayo.
SIPTU Sector Organiser, Damian Ginley, said: “Today marks an important step in our fight for pay justice for our members in Section 39 organisations. The mandate from our membership for industrial action on this issue is strong and clear. 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 Workplace Relations Commission on Monday (March 3).”
He added: “We have had plenty of fine words from leading figures in the Government concerning the important work our members in these services carry out. We now need to see them back this up by providing the funds to Section 39 organisations so that these workers are provided with the pay justice they have long fought for.”

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Section 39 organisation worker and SIPTU activist, Martha Buckley, said: “We cannot be let down again. The previous incarnation of this Government failed to honour its commitments to justly deal with our long-standing pay claim. The Tánaiste, Simon Harris, gave a commitment in the Dáil that the Government would mandate department officials to implement fully the agreement for pay justice for Section 39 organisation workers. We have waited for this clear instruction to be honoured.”
She added: “Should the Government fall short again, our members have delivered a mandate for action to be taken to in this dispute. Such action will have an adverse impact on client services and is the last thing that our members wish to undertake. 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.”