SIPTU Section 39 Workers In Bray To Ballot For Strike Over Government Inaction On Pay

The union represents 5,000 Section 39 workers, which covers services such as disability and home care supports.

SIPTU is calling on the Government to honor a pay agreement reached at the Workplace Relations Commission in October 2023.

Sector Organiser, Damian Ginley, said: “The plight of Section 39 workers took centre stage during the General Election campaign. Senior politicians from Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil were falling over themselves to offer support and solutions, in the media and their election manifestos.

"However, their fine words ring hollow when we examine the Draft Programme for Government.

The incoming Government has failed to include an adequate commitment to address the pay injustice that Section 39 workers face.

Our members’ patience has now run out; they are saying enough is enough and want to take action. The pay link between the public sector and Section 39 Organisations must be restored, and the Government must stop treating our members, who provide essential disability care, elder care, and home support services, as second class."

The Section 39 organisations in Wicklow included in the first round of ballots are:

•  Bray Home Care Service
•  Disability Federation of Ireland                                            
•  Rehab Group