Workers in the community and voluntary sector will today consider a set of proposals agreed last night aimed at resolving a long running pay dispute.
The agreement was reached following talks between unions and Government representatives at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
It is understood the proposals include a 9.25% pay increase over two years, from October 2024 to October 2026, and a commitment to include workers in the community and voluntary sector in future public sector pay agreements.
Speaking as he left the talks last night, Liam Berney, Senior Industrial Officer with ICTU, said members would now be given the opportunity to consider what is being proposed.
“We have a set of proposals that were developed this evening during the course of negotiations today and they will now be considered by unions over the coming days,” Mr Berney said.
Among the workers impacted are staff at Section 39 organisations – charities and agencies that are contracted by the State to provide healthcare services.
Last month, healthcare workers in Section 39 organisations, who are members of SIPTU, voted overwhelmingly for strike action as part of the dispute.
The union had warned that it would serve notice of strike action on employers if the talks failed to achieve a resolution.
“Ultimately, our members will decide the next course of action in relation to where we go from here,” said SIPTU Sector Organiser Damian Ginley as he arrived at today’s talks.
“We will bring the proposals to our members, we will have consultation meetings with them
and depending on the feedback, we will make a decision then on what to do in terms of next steps,” Mr Ginley said.
Unions had accused the Government of failing to honour a pay agreement struck in October 2023.
That deal pledged to restore a link to pay in the public sector.
The Department of Children, Equality and Disability has said workers in the community and voluntary sector are the backbone of many essential services and should be fairly paid and appropriately recognised for the difficult work they do.
