SIPTU members employed at Ireland’s largest dementia facility have agreed to defer Monday and Tuesday’s strike action following receipt of an invitation from the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
On Friday, SIPTU announced an escalation in industrial action, with a 72-hour strike by members from St Joseph’s Centre, Shankill, County Dublin.
Strikes planned for Monday, 27th July, and Tuesday, 28 July, have now been postponed to allow for talks.
However, if no progress is made at the WRC, the strike action planned for Wednesday, 29th July, will go ahead.
Household/Domestic Staff at St Joseph’s Centre have already undertaken three days of strike action earlier this month on the dispute over pay.
St Joseph’s Centre, which is part of St John of God services, is the country’s largest care home dedicated solely to dementia care.
In June, SIPTU members voted in favour of industrial action in a ballot on the Union’s claim for the regrading of Household/Domestic Staff.
Over 80 people use the centre daily.
SIPTU Organiser Michelle Waller said: “Our members met on Friday evening and agreed to defer the action at the request of the Workplace Relations Commission.
“We welcome the invitation by the Workplace Relations Commission to engage and hope to be able to make progress on the issues in dispute at Tuesday’s conciliation conference; however, in the absence of progress, Wednesday’s proposed action will proceed.”