Company (formerly Ann’s Home Care) refuses to engage with Unite regarding unilateral contract changes

Workers providing essential homecare services to vulnerable people throughout counties Louth and Meath are short up to €400 each fortnight following a contract change unilaterally imposed by their employer, Danu Home Care.  Danu Home Care traded as Ann’s Home Care Ireland until last week, but retains the same corporate structure.

Workers who had been on seven 12-hour shifts every fortnight were moved to 30 hour per week contracts.  This means that they have lost 24 hours’ pay every two weeks while doing the same number of calls.  They have thus been left with a shortfall of between €250 and €400 each fortnight.

Despite the fact that Unite organises a majority of Danu Home Care workers in Louth and Meath, the company has so far refused to engage with the union or respond to grievances filed by workers.

The company is an approved Health Services Executive provider of home support services for older people.  In addition to the Louth and Meath home care workers represented by Unite, the company is commissioned by the HSE to provide home care services in North and South Dublin, Monaghan, Longford and Westmeath.

Commenting, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:

“It is shameful that Danu Home Care, which is commissioned by the HSE to provide essential home care support services to vulnerable people, has decided to effectively cut the pay of the experienced and committed healthcare assistants providing these vital services.  Unite will not allow this company to squeeze our members’ pay in order to further boost their profits”.

Danu Home Care is owned by Woodside Holdco Ni, which returned a healthy pre-tax profit of £5.13 million in 2021, according to their most recent published accounts.

Unite regional coordinating officer Tom Fitzgerald added:

“This company has secured lucrative HSE contracts thanks to the expertise and commitment of its workforce.  This week, the HSE declined to intervene to protect the terms and conditions of the workers providing vital services to some of the most vulnerable members of our community.  Unite will be contacting the incoming Minister for Health to outline our members’ concerns and ask that he or she step in.  The company needs to be aware that we will leave no stone unturned to defend our members”.