Health Care Assistants (HCAs) in the HSE Home Support Service in County Donegal have secured back payment of overtime owed to them since 2018, after a threat of industrial action led to management providing written commitments in talks with SIPTU representatives.
A 24-hour strike in Donegal was suspended last Friday after progress was made regarding the key dispute issues.
SIPTU activist and Donegal-based HCA, Edel McGowan, said: “This win ends years of unresolved issues, including underpayments for overtime and the outsourcing of roles. What we achieved by our willingness to take industrial action was the security in knowing that our overtime rates are going to be paid going forward, as well as the backdated payments.”
She added: “We also achieved job security for ourselves, with the HSE reaffirming their commitment to the maximum use of direct labour in the first instance, before outsourcing to private providers. This will be of significant benefit to SIPTU members, particularly to those who may be on lower-hour contracts who wish to take on additional work.”
Following talks last week, the HSE has provided written commitments to pay all overtime money owed from 2018 onwards, with a timeline agreed for payments over the next 24 months. Additionally, the HSE confirmed its commitment to a ‘direct-first’ employment model by stating that it will offer additional hours to directly employed staff before outsourcing.
SIPTU Organiser Ciaran Sheridan said: “This was a huge win for the workers who had been tirelessly fighting for these commitments from the HSE for years.
“It was through the resilience and strength of the fantastic Donegal HSE Shop Steward Committee that we achieved this. It was through our strength in numbers that we got to this successful outcome, because without that collective, the HSE would not have given the commitments that were hard fought.”
He added: “The message to all health workers is clear: joining SIPTU brings real, tangible results. Collective strength ensures our voices are heard and our rights upheld. We urge every health worker to join SIPTU; connect with local HCAs and discover firsthand how unity can drive change.”