SIPTU has accused publicly funded service providers of failing to increase pay, in line with minimum wage increases, for workers in disability services who carry out sleepover shifts.
The union said it has left frontline disability workers out of pocket, with many affected staff earnings reduced by more than €600 for 2024.
According to SIPTU, under a Labour Court ruling sleepover shifts constitute working time and must be paid at a rate of at least the national minimum wage.
However, the union said it has been made aware that several voluntary disability providers have failed to apply the 2024 and 2025 minimum wage increases for staff for sleepover shifts, and that some providers are claiming that the HSE has not allocated the necessary funding.
“It is completely unacceptable that disability workers are left in limbo due to this dispute regarding funding between the funder and the providers,” said SIPTU Sector Organiser, Sharon Cregan.
“Care Assistants working in disability services rely on these payments, and with a basic starting salary of less than €33,000 per year, every euro counts.”
“Additional payments and premium rates are a crucial part of their income, and any delay or failure to apply wage increases has a real financial impact on these essential workers,” Ms Cregan said.
SIPTU said it has written to the HSE seeking clarity regarding the funding and that it is engaging with the voluntary providers as employers seeking that the increases and retrospective payments be made without delay.
The HSE said it recognises the need to address increases in the minimum wage and the impact of that on funded organisations.
“Funding anomalies that have arisen as a result of the increases in the minimum wage will be addressed with the organisations affected in the immediate future,” a spokesperson said.
