Positive resolution to Longford dispute as 96% of St Christopher’s staff back agreement
'There is more work to be done and more to be got from the HSE'
The long-running St Christopher's Services dispute has ended in positive resolution after more than 90 percent of staff voted in favour of accepting a pay deal with management.
The ballot of over 130 Fórsa members under the new proposals opened last Monday, December 17 and a result was announced last Wednesday when 96 percent of staff unanimously backed the agreement.
The work-to-rule industrial action, which began in mid-November and stemmed from a breach of the 2021 collective agreement on the payment of increments, was suspended last week.
Forsa's Assistant General Secretary Tony Martin praised their members and the 'unity' demonstrated by staff which enabled the progress.
Following extensive negotiations, Fórsa and St Christopher’s management had agreed on a set of proposals designed to harmonise pay scales and address staff concerns.
The proposals included that, from January 1, 2025 all staff who are currently on the 2021 pay scale will be moved up to the 2022 scale and staff will subsequently move to the 2023 pay-scale level next July.
Fine Gael Longford TD Micheál Carrigy stated he is very pleased by the development.
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"It's very positive and I'm delighted that the union reps accepted the recommendation," he said. "There is more work to be done and more to be got from the HSE. I said when I was elected it would be a priority for me to work with the union and with St Christopher's to get pay parity because that has to be a priority."
Deputy Carrigy praised the resolve of workers and the key stakeholders including CEO Declan Kenny.
"I'm working and I have been behind the scenes to make sure that pay parity across Section 39 organisations forms part of the Programme for Government," he said. "There's a new era there, a new CEO and a new chairperson of the board and I'm looking forward to working with them to stabilise the financial future."