A long-running dispute involving 16 Intellectual Disability Instructors employed in St. John of God Services in County Kerry has been resolved after members voted, in February, in favour of proposals agreed at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
The dispute related to management’s refusal to reinstate SIPTU members’ working hours to the levels they worked prior to the Haddington Road Public Service Agreement 2013.
In July 2022, the working hours of staff who were impacted by an “enforced increase” of hours within the Public Service under the above agreement were reinstated to their original levels.
However, management at St. John of God did not accept that the 16 Instructors should have their hours reinstated to their original levels, which led to a dispute.
Despite engagement with both sides and with the intervention of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and the Labour Court, the dispute remained unresolved.
In light of the lack of resolution, the respective members balloted for industrial action, up to and including strike action, in August 2025.
The case was again referred to the WRC, and both sides reconvened there on 4th February. A set of proposals was negotiated under the auspices of the WRC, and members voted to accept them.
“We welcome this development and the satisfactory result as it resolves a longstanding dispute for our members,” SIPTU Sector Organiser Sharon Cregan said.