SIPTU members employed in the National Advocacy Service have suspended their strike action following agreement by management that it will fully implement a Labour Court recommendation concerning pay and conditions for the workers who provide vital assistance to disabled citizens.
SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, John King, said: “Our members in the National Advocacy Service took resolute action on Wednesday, 12th June when they went on strike and placed pickets outside their places of work across the country. They were willing to remain on strike for as long as it took to secure the acceptance by management of the terms of the Labour Court recommendation on their pay and conditions secured in January.
“Thankfully, management have now indicated that it will implement the Labour Court recommendation in full. This has allowed our members to suspend their strike action and enter negotiations with management on its full implementation.”
SIPTU Sector Organiser, Brendan Carr, said: “This is good day for the workers involved and their clients. Our members had no other option but to commence strike action as they believed that the very future of the National Advocacy Service was at stake. The existing pay and conditions for staff was resulting in an inability to recruit new workers and experienced staff leaving.”
SIPTU Activist and National Advocacy Service staff member, Suzy Byrne, said: “I and my colleagues wish to thank the numerous disability organisations, politicians and the general public for their support for our industrial action which was aimed at ensuring our services are maintained at the standard necessary. Today has shown what workers in the community sector can achieve when they take resolute action with a sense of solidarity and purpose.
“For too long many workers in our sector have been taken for granted to their detriment and that of the vital services we provide. We are very pleased that we can now get back to our work assisting more than 1,500 disabled people each year with in-person advocacy interventions in areas including housing, access to justice, health care, safeguarding and supporting in decision making.”