Richard Boyd Barrett: John O'Gods Must Recognise Dementia Carers
Richard Boyd Barrett speaks about imminent industrial action at St Joseph's Centre in Shankill after staff say John O'Gods has failed to recognise the scope of their care duties. He urges St John of God to engage with the industrial relations machinery so workers do not have to proceed with justified action.
Richard Boyd Barrett outlines that St Joseph's Centre is the largest care home dedicated solely to dementia care in the country. Members employed on a domestic grade perform feeding, driving and care duties and have entered industrial action because St John of God has not adjusted grading or pay.
He details how staff routinely carry out duties beyond a domestic grade, feeding residents, transporting them and delivering direct care. When the dispute went to the WRC, St John of God offered no enhancement to grading or pay, prompting workers to take action.
Many staff have decades of service at St Joseph's Centre-10, 15, 20, and in one case 37 years-making the dispute not only about pay but long-term recognition and respect. Barrett frames the issue as central to maintaining quality dementia care if staff morale and retention are threatened.
Barrett calls for St John of God to engage with the industrial relations machinery as the most effective route to resolve the dispute and avoid disruption to residents. He asks decision-makers to intervene so the justified industrial action does not become necessary.
Situation on the ground
Richard Boyd Barrett outlines that St Joseph's Centre is the largest care home dedicated solely to dementia care in the country. Members employed on a domestic grade perform feeding, driving and care duties and have entered industrial action because St John of God has not adjusted grading or pay.
Work performed and grading dispute
He details how staff routinely carry out duties beyond a domestic grade, feeding residents, transporting them and delivering direct care. When the dispute went to the WRC, St John of God offered no enhancement to grading or pay, prompting workers to take action.
Length of service and consequences
Many staff have decades of service at St Joseph's Centre-10, 15, 20, and in one case 37 years-making the dispute not only about pay but long-term recognition and respect. Barrett frames the issue as central to maintaining quality dementia care if staff morale and retention are threatened.
Path to resolution
Barrett calls for St John of God to engage with the industrial relations machinery as the most effective route to resolve the dispute and avoid disruption to residents. He asks decision-makers to intervene so the justified industrial action does not become necessary.
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Transcript
St Joseph's Centre in Shank Hill is the largest care home dedicated solely to dementia care in the country and tomorrow CYF2 members have felt compelled to take industrial action because of the failure of John O'Gods to recognize the work and the duties that they do. They are employed at a domestic grade but in reality they do jobs way beyond that. They feed people, they drive people around, they do care duties but St John O'Gods are refusing to acknowledge that in terms of their grading and their pay structure. They've offered nothing when they went into WRC so the workers are feeling compelled to take industrial action tomorrow. Many of them working there 10, 15, 20 and sometimes one person 37 years. These workers deserve to be recognized for the duties they do. Will you intervene with John O'Gods so they don't have to continue with their justified industrial action? Thank you Deputy for raising an important issue and I think those around me are saying it's an excellent centre, provides great care and the industrial relations machinery should be used. John O'Gods should engage with the industrial relations machinery to resolve this issue. That's the most effective way of doing it.