SIPTU has suspended all planned Health Care Assistant (HCA) strikes in the Northwest, West and South regions following agreement with the HSE on key issues regarding underpayments, rostering and working conditions for these critical frontline staff.
Strike action, which was due to commence over four days in counties Cork, Limerick, Kerry, Clare and Donegal, will not take place. The deal, reached with the assistance of the Workplace Relations Commission, resolves long-standing issues for SIPTU HCA members in the HSE Home Support Service, resulting from their employer violating national agreements on terms and conditions.
SIPTU Organiser, Graham Macken, said: “The decision to suspend strike action follows extensive discussions with management. These have resulted in commitments from the HSE to ensure oversight and implementation of rostering principles, which ensure a fair work/life balance for our members and ensure the HSE meets its obligations under the Organisation of Working Time Act.
He added: “This agreement will ensure outstanding payments due to our members are discharged on time. The HSE has reaffirmed its commitment to direct labour, with additional hours being offered to those on lower-hour contracts, ensuring vacant positions are recruited into promptly and confirming every effort will be made through recruitment initiatives to secure direct employment of HCAs in Home Support Services.”
Sector Organiser Liz Cloherty said, “Our members deliver an invaluable service to their clients, and they deserve the recognition and respect for the essential work they do. Our members did not take the decision lightly to take industrial action; however, they felt they had no choice for the betterment of their conditions and ensuring this vital job is one that people will want to take up with the HSE in the future.”
The wider agreement follows a significant breakthrough last week, when a deal was secured to pay outstanding overtime payments, backdated to 2018, and reinforce protections for direct employment were secured for HCAs working in County Donegal.