Strike planned by health workers called off after late-night negotiations

A 24-hour strike planned by agency healthcare and social workers has been suspended after late-night negotiations yielded a proposal.

The strike was expected to involve thousands of workers in the community and voluntary sector agencies, particularly in the disability sector.

The action was being taken over a pay gap between agency workers and HSE staff for doing similar work, which unions say is leading to retention issues.

After last-ditch talks concluded at the Workplace Relations Commission overnight, unions suspended the planned strike action.

Unions involved in the negotiations, Forsa, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (Inmo) and Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (Siptu), will now ballot members on a proposed 8% pay rise.

A previous Government offer of a 5% rise had been rejected by the unions.

The proposed agreement also includes a commitment to engage in a further process to examine re-establishing a link between the pay rates of the workers and their counterparts in the HSE.

The planned strike was predicted to have involved around 5,000 workers.

Organisations such as Enable Ireland, the Irish Wheelchair Association and DePaul Ireland would have been affected.

In a memo issued to their members, the unions said: “Further to extensive talks chaired by the Workplace Relations Commission, we wish to advise that a set of proposals have been brokered on the dispute.

“As a result, it has been agreed to suspend the proposed industrial action to allow members the opportunity to consider the proposals.”

Acting chief executive of the Irish Wheelchair Association Chris Hoey said he was relieved and grateful at the development.

“There is immense relief amongst our community today, and we are grateful for the increased offer put forward by the unions to our employees,” he said.

“It is crucial that the re-linking of pay salaries is established to ensure security in the sector and prevent workers from seeking higher pay rates elsewhere.

“It is truly regrettable that our people, including service users and employees, were pushed to the brink before these talks even began.

“The stress imposed on families across the country cannot be reversed.

“This treatment by the Government continues to demonstrate the undervaluation of people with disabilities.

“We will tirelessly work to reverse the impact of the proposed strike action, although some effects cannot be instantaneously reversed.

“This is not good enough.

“We would like to express sincere thanks to our employees and service users for their unwavering support and to those who bravely shared their stories with the public.”

Tanaiste Micheal Martin said on Monday that there had been a “significant degree of work” to resolve the dispute.

“This is an issue that’s been on the agenda for about 10 years, there has been a stop-start approach to try and deal with it, but we’re anxious to see can we get this resolved sustainably into the future,” he said.