Industrial action in St. Christopher’s Intellectual Disability Services in Longford is due to start on Monday 18th November.

The work-to-rule will mean that Fórsa members at St Christopher’s will not attend work outside of their contracted hours and won’t engage in planned overtime. In addition, Fórsa members will not take on any tasks, functions or duties associated with a higher grade, will limit their use of personal phones for work purposes and will cease the use of personal vehicles for work purposes.  

The issue in dispute is the non-payment of promised increments. Despite extensive engagement it has not been possible to resolve this issue, which has been ongoing for months.

Previously planned industrial action was suspended to allow for talks under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). A proposal that emerged from those talks was rejected by members in a ballot in June. 

Since then, local engagement has continued however there has been no resolution. The union’s Health and Welfare Divisional Dispute Committee met on Tuesday 22nd October to discuss the matter and approved industrial action. Following that three weeks notice was served.

Fórsa official Tony Martin said: “The employer has had countless opportunities to resolve this situation and time after time they have failed to do so.  Staff are under pressure and not getting the pay increases they were due is very bad for morale.”

Tony continued: “The HSE requested the suspension of the payment of increments in March, stating that they were unable to provide the necessary funding, and the funds still haven’t been released. We’re coming towards the end of the year, people are planning for Christmas, and these workers, who provide vital services are still being left out in the cold.” 

“On behalf of our members we have continued to engage with the employer, but they have failed to avert the industrial action. Next week this industrial action will send a powerful message that we won’t let this go.”

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