Industrial Action in Section 39 Organisations

Disabled people deserve high-quality services and supports, and this requires well-trained and properly paid staff.

The single biggest challenge experienced by our sector in delivering services and supports is the recruitment and retention of staff. Sufficient and sustainable funding is required to restore salaries in line with State provided services. Current pay-levels are lower compared to state-provided services because of cuts to funding during the recession in 2008. It is long overdue that equal pay for equal work arrangements are restored.

With the State paying more to their employees for the same work this is resulting in staff leaving the community and voluntary sector for better-paid roles in State provided services. This ongoing inequity undermines the ability of our member organisations to recruit and retain the workforce needed to provide essential disability services.

As employers, we want to pay our staff equally, but we can only pay salaries within the funding allocated to us by the State. The Disability Federation of Ireland and some of our member organisations were included in a recent ballot for strike and industrial action. The results of that ballot were received, with an overwhelming 96% vote in favour of industrial action.

Both employees and employers are calling for pay equity—equal pay for equal work. We urge the relevant Government Departments and unions to fully engage with the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to reach an agreement and prevent strike action. The WRC is scheduled to meet on Monday 3rd March.

Disabled people should not have to bear the impact of a pay dispute. A resolution must be found that ensures fair pay for staff and protects essential services for those who rely on them.