Sisters of Charity protests continue
by Mehak Dugal and Niall Shanahan
 
The protest, which assembled outside St Monica’s Nursing Home on Dublin’s Northside, brought together members of Fórsa, the INMO and SIPTU.
The protest, which assembled outside St Monica’s Nursing Home on Dublin’s Northside, brought together members of Fórsa, the INMO and SIPTU.

Former staff of three insolvent Sisters of Charity facilities held a socially distanced protest last Wednesday (2nd September) to highlight their demands for a fair redundancy package and called for the protection of services in the community. A further protest is planned for next Wednesday (9th September).

 

The protest, which assembled outside St Monica’s Nursing Home on Dublin’s Northside, brought together members of Fórsa, the INMO and Siptu.

 

The unions said it was time that the Sisters of Charity met with union representatives. Despite assurances to engage with union reps, no engagement has yet taken place.

 

The closures of St Mary’s and St Monica’s nursing homes in July, and previously the Caritas Convalescent centre in March, left almost 200 staff out of work and took 160 beds from the capital’s healthcare services. Fórsa and other unions took the case to the Labour Court, which recommended redundancy payments in line with those paid in the public service.

 

Support

Fórsa official Olajide Ogidan said: “Fórsa was there to support our members and to assure them that we will continue to fight their cause. These staff have given so much to the nursing home over the years and it is very sad that they are being treated this way.

 

“Despite the bad weather, staff of St. Monica’s made redundant following the closure of the nursing home turned up in large numbers to protest. All they are asking for is a decent redundancy package. This is not too much to ask and they shouldn’t be out there protesting for what should have been given to them,” he said.

 

Redundancy

Olajide added: “Many of these former staff will depend on living on their redundancy payment for a long time given the economic situation in the country as a result of the pandemic. They need money to look after themselves, pay their bills, look after their children. Without the payment of a decent redundancy package, life is going to be very difficult for them.

 

“Fórsa is now calling on the Sisters of Charity to live up their name and their ethos, and pay these staff a decent redundancy package,” he said.

 

The three unions are calling on the Sisters of Charity and the HSE to act on the Labour Court recommendation, which backs their claim for the state’s standard enhanced redundancy terms in respect of 64 members at the now closed Caritas Convalescent Centre in Dublin. Over a month has now passed since the Labour Court's decision for a fair redundancy package. Unions have also argued that the Court recommended terms should also act as template for workers already let go or soon to be made redundant at the two other care homes, also operated by the Sisters of Charity.

 

Fórsa official Seán McElhinney also highlighted the fact that the staff had worked throughout the pandemic. He highlighted that, in addition to the lack of a severance package, they are also losing out on overtime and holidays due to them.

 

Hope and uncertainty

Following weeks of intense campaigning, there has been some indication that the Sisters of Charity is considering the feasibility of releasing funds to compensate the workers for the loss of their jobs. But there has been no confirmation yet, and frontline staff continue to linger in uncertainty for their future.

 

Seán added: “Our members welcome the indication that the Sisters of Charity is scoping out the feasibility of releasing funds to compensate for job loss. Nevertheless, some of the Sisters’ comments seem ambiguous.

 

“In that context, we will welcome the protest as an opportunity to share our explicit expectation: that the recommendation of the Labour Court will be fully applied to all three facilities.

 

“The HSE has also been named in the Labour Court recommendation. They too should be paying attention to our protest. We are committed to bringing the HSE to the table. They must play their part in implementing the recommendation of the court,” he said.

 

The protest drew a large support from public representatives across the political spectrum as well as on social media.

 

Another protest is also set to take place in Caritas next Wednesday, 9th September. You can show your support for the workers using the hashtag #PayUpSisters across social platforms.

 

 

It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact us HERE.

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