“It is time for change. It is time to stand up and say we are not going to take it anymore.”
Trade union members working in the community sector and for Section 39 healthcare organisations in Drogheda and County Louth are to join their colleagues from across the country at a major protest in Dublin next Tuesday, 3rd May, to highlight the need for better pay and respect for their roles.
SIPTU activist and Local Employment Services worker in Drogheda, Susanne Booth, said: “In many cases community sector and Section 39 organisation workers are poorly paid, have poor or no pension provision and lack security of employment. This is despite these workers providing important health and social services to the most disadvantaged and vulnerable members of our society.
“The role of such community and healthcare organisations is vital at all times. They played a particularly key role in keeping our society together during the pandemic and are now being called upon to assist the wave of refugees that have resulted from the conflict in Ukraine.”
She added: “It is time for change. It is time to stand up and say we are not going to take it anymore. SIPTU, Fórsa and the INMO have come together under the ICTU to seek a collective bargaining forum with Government to ensure our members’ terms and conditions of employment are on a par with the quality services which they provide.”
SIPTU Public Administration and Community Division Organiser, Adrian Kane said: “These workers provide some of our most vital community and care services including care for persons with a disability, the elderly, vulnerable families, meals on wheels and young people.
“Among the hundreds of organisations they work for are Rehab Group, Western Care, Pieta House, EmployAbility, Local Employment Services, Ability West, Inclusion Ireland, Local Community Partnerships, Job Clubs, LEADER projects and the Irish Wheelchair Association.”
SIPTU Health Division Sector Organiser, Willie Noone, said: “The march and protest outside Leinster House in Dublin on Tuesday, 3rd May, is an opportunity for these workers and their supporters to tell the Government that action must be taken now to properly recognise the importance of the work they do. These workers need a pay rise and access to sick pay and pension schemes.”
Community sector and Section 39 organisation workers from across Cork city and county are being encouraged by their unions to attend the march in Dublin. Marchers are asked to assemble outside the Customs House, Dublin 1, at 11.00 a.m. from where they will march to rally in Merrion Square, Dublin 2.
Susanne Booth wishes to clarify that in her contribution to the above piece, Drogheda health workers to march for better pay and respect, that she was speaking in a personal capacity. Susanne acknowledges that she has excellent terms and conditions from her current employer Louth LEADER Partnership. The article was raising issues about terms and conditions in the wider community and voluntary sector and the SIPTU campaign to bring these issues to the attention of Government.
