SIPTU members in Section 39 organisations to commence industrial action

SIPTU members in CoAction and South Doc, which are HSE funded services based in county Cork and Kerry, have voted in favour of industrial action as part of a country-wide campaign for pay restoration by workers in Section 39 organisations. SIPTU Public Administration and Community Division Organiser, Adrian Kane, said: “The HSE has failed to restore pay deductions imposed on workers in Section 39 Organisations in line with an agreement brokered at the Workplace Relations Commission in October 2018. “These SIPTU members suspended scheduled strike action in February of this year but, since then, there has been no substantive progress on restoring the pay-cuts, which in some cases date back to 2010. In all, approximately 250 Section 39 organisations across the country are affected. Our members have not taken this decision to commence a campaign of industrial action lightly. However, their loyalty and hard work is being taken for granted. The Government is not listening to these workers and seems indifferent to their plight. “A nation-wide campaign of industrial action will now commence in Cork and Kerry. Next month, we will begin ballots for industrial action in a number of Dublin based services. These will include De Paul and the Walkinstown Greenhills Resource Centre as well as other employments. This rolling industrial action will continue nation-wide until this dispute is resolved.” SIPTU Organiser, Theresa Butler, said: “SIPTU members employed in Section 39 employments will next week mount protests outside the constituency offices of Cork and Kerry cabinet members including An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney and the Minister for Education, Norma Foley. There will be strict compliance with public health guidelines in relation to all protests and industrial action.”