The Government is intent on provoking more strikes in care and community organisations as it seeks to ignore three days of industrial action in the sector this week as part of the Valuing Care, Valuing Community campaign and with more workers demanding to join the dispute. Hundreds of workers in Western Care in Mayo, Ability West in Galway and selected community employment schemes in Donegal are going on strike today (Thursday, 22nd September). This follows strikes by workers in other Section 39 care and community organisations yesterday and more action scheduled for tomorrow. SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Kevin Figgis, said: “Most of these workers have not had a pay rise since 2008. Unlike trade union members in the public or private sector they currently have no way of negotiating a pay increase. “Their wages can only be increased by the Government agreeing to increase funding to the organisations which employ them. We need the Government to do as it did prior to 2008 which was provide increases in funding to Section 39 care and community organisations in order to allow for pay increases so these vital workers can continue to provide the services they do. SIPTU Public Administration and Community Division Organiser, Adrian Kane, said: “Across the care and community sector, workers are demanding that their unions escalate the campaign of strike action because they have no other option in the face of a worsening cost of living crisis. These workers are being forced onto the picket line as the only alternative is leaving the jobs they love or being forced into the ranks of the working poor." He added: “The solution to this industrial relations crisis is simple, the Government must respect these workers and engage with their unions.” The strikes are part of the Valuing Care, Valuing Community campaign which is supported by the ICTU, SIPTU, Fórsa and the INMO. Workers the Irish Wheelchair Association, St. Joseph’s Foundation and EmployAbility went on strike in Cork yesterday (Wednesday, 21st September). The final group of workers in this wave of action to go on strike will be in Enable Ireland in counties Cork and Kerry tomorrow (Friday, 23rd September).
Government intent on provoking more strikes in care and community sector
