The Minister for Children and Disability is to reconvene pay talks with unions representing disability care workers “imminently”, writes Sarah McGuinness.
Officials from Norma Foley’s new department began meetings with representatives for disability workers in community and voluntary organisations last year.
Roughly 27,000 disability workers operate in these centres, which are funded by the HSE under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004 and are therefore known as ‘Section 39’ organisations.
The workers are not public servants and therefore saw no change in their pay in the most recent public sector pay deal.
Talks to negotiate pay increases for them adjourned in November once the Dáil was dissolved.
Ms Foley will notify Cabinet of her intention to reopen the discussions today.
It comes after Siptu began a ballot for strike action of up to 5,000 members working in 21 Section 39 organisations two weeks ago.
The union is accusing the Government of failing to honour a deal struck at the Workplace Relations Commission in 2023.
A Government spokesperson said Ms Foley and Hildegarde Naughton, super-junior minister for disability, are keen for talks to resume.
The pay issue came to the fore after an election encounter between Fine Gael leader Simon Harris and disability worker Charlotte Fallon in Co. Cork.
Photo: Norma Foley TD. Photograph: Leah Farrell / © RollingNews.ie
