Staff in Ability West in county Galway will strike on Thursday, 22nd September, as part of the Valuing Care, Valuing Community campaign to highlight the demand for a first pay rise in 14 years for workers in the organisation. SIPTU Organiser, Liz Cloherty: “Most care and community sector workers have not had a pay rise in 14 years. They are struggling to make ends meet in the face of a worsening cost of living crisis while also seeking to maintain services for some of our most vulnerable citizens. “In July, strike action was taken in selected care and community organisations in counties Dublin, Waterford and Galway. Unfortunately, the Government, which controls the funding of these organisations and so has ultimate control over whether the wages of workers can be increased, has failed to positively respond to our demand for pay justice.” She added: “Due to the Government’s intransigence, workers in several organisations in Mayo, Galway, Donegal, Cork and Kerry have now voted to go on strike on a rolling basis from 21st to 23nd September, as part of the Valuing Care, Valuing Community campaign She added: “Government is failing to grasp the link between its chronic underfunding of the wages of workers in these organisations and the failure to meet recruitment targets in, for example, disability services. “These are the same organisations struggling to attract enough qualified and experienced staff in a very tight labour market. Why? Because they can get better paid work elsewhere. The failure to fund the services adequately has led directly to shortfalls in services and growing waiting lists. It also leaves our members feeling undervalued and not recognised by the Government for the invaluable work they do.” More than 600 children and adults avail of Ability West services and supports in 62 centres located across Galway City and county. On Thursday, 22nd September, striking SIPTU members will place pickets on the Ability West main office in Blackrock House, Salthill, county Galway and its facility on the Galway Road, Townparks, Tuam, county Galway. The Valuing Care, Valuing Community campaign is supported by the ICTU, SIPTU, Fórsa and the INMO.
Workers in Ability West in county Galway to strike on 22nd September
