A pay dispute involving members of the Fórsa trade union working at children’s charity Barnardos has been resolved.
The workers had threatened to take industrial action in the form of a work-to-rule from Wednesday 25 June but the planned action was called off after Barnardos agreed to grant a pay increase of 4% and backpay to staff.
Fórsa had accused management of failing to fully implement the terms of a 2023 pay agreement, which was brokered at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
The union said that just 4% of the 8% increase has been paid to staff.
Fórsa has about 100 members working at Barnardos.
“After careful consideration following a ballot by some employees in relation to industrial action, linked to the WRC April 2023 agreement, Barnardos has taken the decision to grant a pay increase of 4% and backpay to staff,” Barnardos said in a statement.
“Our absolute priority are the children and families we support, and we want to avoid any disruption to our services.”
“From January 2022 Barnardos paid a series of pay increases that came to 10.5%. The WRC April 2023 agreement granted an 8% increase,” a spokesperson said.
Barnardos said the further pay increase and backpay has to be self-financing and its management team is now working to deliver a programme of savings to ensure the charity is financial sustainability.
“Our priority as an organisation is to ensure the Government understands that the current statutory funding model is unsustainable and is putting critical services for vulnerable children and families at risk.”
“We will lobby for payment of the full cost of services that we deliver on their behalf,” Barnardos said.
