Social workers threaten strike over €7.5m in unpaid wages
Around 400 social care workers in Galway and Roscommon who are owed €7.5 million from the Health Service Executive (HSE) in unpaid wages for over a decade have threatened all-out industrial action.
Trade unions IMPACT and SIPTU say they reached an agreement with the HSE to reimburse part of the monies owed to the workers but they claim this has been reneged on.
The HSE has acknowledged that it owes the money to the workers, and has been directed by Labour Court to pay its debts. But it is refusing to make the payments and clear its debts, claiming an inability to pay.
The matter came to a head in recent months when both parties were referred to the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) for talks.
Agreement was reached that the HSE would back-pay three years of the owed wages to the workers, and that it would be paid in the first quarter of 2016.
The HSE agreed to this at LRC but according to the unions they have since “reneged” on what was agreed.
“Our members are very, very angry. They are fed up of waiting for what is owed to them. Everyone, including the HSE, and the Minister for Health, acknowledges that the wages are owed. We reached a compromise agreement and this week we have been told that they are going back on that agreement because they cannot pay,” said Pádraig Mulligan assistant general secretary of IMPACT.
The social care workers and leaders have been working with Brothers of Charity Services and Ability West. They used to be known as ‘Old House Parents’.
At a Labour Court hearing earlier this year, the HSE accepted that about 400 workers in Galway and Roscommon are entitled to what’s known as Twilight Premium, which is time and one sixth extra for working between 8pm and midnight. The outstanding bill is about €7.5 million.
Mr Mulligan yesterday said that the workers will meeting next week to decide on the exact course of industrial action, which has already been overwhelmingly approved by members.
“We voted for industrial action but that was postponed pending the outcome of talks at the LRC. An agreement was reached at the LRC but the HSE has reneged on that agreement and we will not meet with members to discuss industrial action. That could include people not turning up for work – all out industrial action. We have always put the service users first and we have been very reasonable on our dealings with the HSE but they have reneged on an agreement and we will now examine our options regarding industrial action,” added Mr Mulligan.