SIPTU is holding an information meeting for HSE Home Helps based in County Roscommon, in Hannon’s Hotel, Roscommon, on Thursday, 17th October at 7.30 p.m. The meeting will discuss the recent Labour Court recommendation concerning Home Helps’ contracts of employment which establishes a new minimum threshold of working hours and curtails the outsourcing of the service.The ruling followed an intensive campaign of protest, lobbying and campaigning by SIPTU Home Help activists. There are over 200 HSE Home Help workers based in Roscommon and the meeting is open to both members and non-members of SIPTU.SIPTU Industrial Official, Pat Flannery, said: “Home Help workers in Roscommon played a key role in the union’s campaign. Our members and supporters held public meetings with local councillors and TDs and backed a successful protest in Tullamore last year to highlight cuts to the service. They have kept the pressure up ever since.”Home Help and SIPTU Shop Steward, Adeline Mee, said: “This recommendation means Home Helps for the first time will be recognised as a workforce that fully belongs to the HSE. For Home Help workers, not knowing from one week to the next what our income was going to be was very stressful. We provide a valuable service to the community, taking care of clients in their own home, where they want to be and it’s great that the Labour Court has recognised that value.”SIPTU Organiser, Pat Flannery, added: “Following a long and arduous journey we are delighted that the campaign initiated by SIPTU Home Help members has delivered a Labour Court recommendation which finally puts them on an equal footing with all other HSE employees. This momentum will have to continue to ensure delivery of the gains achieved, and that is why it is so important that as many Home Helps as possible come along to this meeting.”
SIPTU Home Helps meeting in Roscommon to discuss new contracts
