Dear members,
As you know by now, after many hours of negotiation at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), an agreement was reached between all parties early this morning. I’m writing to you now to give you more information on the agreement.
This agreement is a significant step forwards for workers in Section 39, 10 and 56 organisations. We are closer to pay parity than we have been in a decade. It sets out a clear path for pay increases and there is a clear commitment to restoration of the link with public sector pay. We could not have gotten to this point without you. You were ready to take strike action and this determination strengthened our hand in the negotiations.
For the first time the Government has acknowledged the need for sustainable funding in the sector, that the lack of funding has led to a recruitment and retention crisis, and that the pay of workers in Section 39, 10 and 56 organisations has fallen behind equivalent and comparable grades in public service organisations.
The details of the interim agreement are:
- The pay of workers will be adjusted as follows:
- An increase of 3% from 1 April 2023
- An increase of 2% from 1 November 2023
- An increase of 3% from 1 March 2024
- The WRC will convene parties to this interim agreement no later than 1 December 2023. The purpose of this engagement will be to agree further adjustments in funding for organisations and their staff that will have regard to the terms of Building Momentum and the terms of any successor agreement.
You can see the text of the interim agreement here.
Your courage and activism have made it possible to achieve this significant step forwards for workers in the community and voluntary sector. From organising pickets, writing to politicians, sharing on social media, talking to your communities: every action you took helped us achieve this agreement.
Thousands of messages of support were sent online, and tens of thousands of people engaged with solidarity videos and messages.
We will be in touch with details of information sessions for members, an FAQ, and ballot arrangements over the coming days.
For now, I would like to thank you once again for all of your hard work. Our union’s strength is our members. I am proud to represent you and work on your behalf every day. If you have further questions about the agreement, please contact your local branch official and keep an eye on our website.
In solidarity,
Ashley Connolly
Head of Health and Welfare Division
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