Danny Healy-Rae Presses Minister on Section 39 Pay Parity
Danny Healy-Rae pressed the minister on pay parity for Section 39 workers, arguing they perform the same roles as Section 38 staff but receive lower pay and face imminent industrial action. He said Section 39 workers do "Trojan work in Kerry around people with disabilities" and urged the Government to honour long-standing promises on pay.
The deputy outlined that Section 39 workers provide disability supports and other community services, do the same work as Section 38 workers, and are paid less. He warned that these workers are about to take strike action after promises on pay parity have gone unfulfilled for years.
The Deputy Minister responded that the Government recognises the essential work carried out by staff in community and voluntary health and social care organisations and the State's reliance on those organisations and staff to deliver supports and services.
The Deputy Minister said the Programme for Government commits to working with the voluntary sector through industrial relations mechanisms and other processes to progress pay issues affecting the delivery of disability services and the long-term viability of organisations in the sector.
Relevant departments have proactively engaged with unions and employers on pay funding through a process facilitated by the Workplace Relations Commission. Talks at the WRC were adjourned around the time of the general election and Ministers are seeking an early opportunity to restart engagement with unions and employers to provide certainty to the sector as soon as possible.
Issue raised
The deputy outlined that Section 39 workers provide disability supports and other community services, do the same work as Section 38 workers, and are paid less. He warned that these workers are about to take strike action after promises on pay parity have gone unfulfilled for years.
Government acknowledgement
The Deputy Minister responded that the Government recognises the essential work carried out by staff in community and voluntary health and social care organisations and the State's reliance on those organisations and staff to deliver supports and services.
Programme commitments
The Deputy Minister said the Programme for Government commits to working with the voluntary sector through industrial relations mechanisms and other processes to progress pay issues affecting the delivery of disability services and the long-term viability of organisations in the sector.
Industrial relations process and next steps
Relevant departments have proactively engaged with unions and employers on pay funding through a process facilitated by the Workplace Relations Commission. Talks at the WRC were adjourned around the time of the general election and Ministers are seeking an early opportunity to restart engagement with unions and employers to provide certainty to the sector as soon as possible.
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Transcript
Minister, I want to ask you, what are we going to do about Section 39 workers who have been left behind for so long regarding pay parity and conditions? They're about to strike sharply regarding industrial action, and I feel they have no choice but to do that because they've been promised for so long. These Section 39 workers, Minister, do Trojan work in Kerry around people with disabilities and all the other little problems that they have. They do the very same work as Section 38 workers, but they're not being paid the same. It's not fair that two sections doing the same work, Section 39 workers, are being paid less. They have been promised for so long. When are we going to honour the promise that he made, even back here somewhere between 2016 and 1990? Thank you, Deputy Minister, to respond. Thanks, Deputy. The Government recognises the essential work carried out by staff in community and voluntary health and social care organisations and the reliance of the State on these organisations and indeed the staff to deliver such important supports and services in the communities we represent. The Programme for Government commits to working with the voluntary sector through the industrial relations mechanisms and other processes to progress pay issues that affect the delivery of disability services and the long-term viability of organisations within the sectors. Relevant departments have proactively engaged with unions and employers on pay funding in a process facilitated by the Workplace Relations Commission. Talks at the WRC were adjourned around the time of the general election and Ministers in the respective departments are seeking an early opportunity to restart this engagement with unions and employers through the WRC to provide certainty to the sector as soon as possible. Thank you.