Longford / Westmeath TD welcomes WRC talks aimed at averting Section 39 workers’ strike action

Longford-Westmeath TD Robert Troy has welcomed talks that aim to advert strike action by community workers.

 The Fianna Fáil  politician has been supportive of calls by the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) and other voluntary community organisations for pay parity.  Last minute negotiations have commenced today at the Workplace Relations Commission. Industrial action is set to begin on Tuesday across the IWA’s 58 locations, and other Section 39 organisations, as their employees seek realignment of the pay rates with their HSE counterparts. 

Deputy Troy said: “I wholeheartedly support the call for pay parity from the Irish Wheelchair Association and other community and voluntary organisation. IWA employees are currently earning €4.20 per hour less than their HSE counterparts who earn €20.02, and they haven’t had a pay increase in years. That is not fair. It needs to be addressed urgently in a bid to avert strike action. He added that working closely with the IWA in Springfield Co. Westmeath allowed him to see the positive impact the organisation's work has had for people with disabilities '' Their service users have a better quality of life because of these workers, but they’re very worried about the impact that a strike will have on them because they are heavily dependent on the service. Every effort must be used to avert the strike and resolve this issue.”