The National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities (NAS) is undergoing discussions to secure the necessary finances that would allow pay increments and prevent a strike by the staff on Wednesday. NAS agrees that the claim being raised is valid and it supports its employees in their fight for fair wages.
Around 50 workers in the organisation are preparing to strike due to a disagreement regarding pay and classification, which originated from the time when the organisation separated from the Citizens Information Board (CIB) over ten years ago.
Employees believe they were handed lesser terms, grading structures, and conditions when the NAS became a standalone entity. There hasn’t been any pay rise since then.
Advocates of the organisation offer unbiased advice and representation to individuals with disabilities when dealing with official entities, frequently with the aim to secure or preserve benefits or services. The NAS warns that the strike could majorly affect their clients instantly.
Earlier in January, the Labour Court encouraged the management to justify the need for funding to allow pay raises. As with various charities and NGOs delivering healthcare services on behalf of the HSE, the NAS acknowledges the argument for pay increment as valid, yet it can’t enhance payment rates unless its funding is aptly updated.
John King, Siptu’s Deputy General Secretary, mentioned that the employee’s decision to strike was the only remaining course to push forward their fight for a justifiable pay hike.
A NAS worker and Siptu campaigner, Suzy Byrne, noted that the total expenditure of the pay and terms improvements sought are in the hundreds of thousands but are essential for the organisation’s ability to hire and retain necessary staff for a vital service.
She highlighted the increasing workload and the loss of staff to organisations that offer better remuneration. She expressed concern that even employees with significant experience can get entry-level roles elsewhere and have a better financial state. The scenario makes staff retention impossible.
She stressed that even though no one desires a strike, they feel they have limited options now. NAS noted in a comment that the strike might interfere with services and they’re working to limit the resulting impact.
The choice to initiate a strike is never an easy one,” the statement noted. “Our staff’s decision underlines their substantial concerns about wage equality. We strive to promote rights and ensure just and equitable treatment for everyone, and this principle must also be applied to our own staff.
“We fully recognise the legitimacy of these demands for equal pay and support our employees in their quest for fair wages.
“Since 2010, there has been no increase in staff salaries or cost-of-living adjustments for NAS employees, since the salary conditions were initially determined. NAS salaries are determined by our financial backer, the Citizens Information Board, which gets its funding from the Department of Social Protection.”
The statement went on to explain that it is currently in dialogue with its sponsor, the CIB, in order to secure the needed finances “to strive for a fair and mutually agreeable solution that respects the Labour Court’s recommendations and assures the continuity of our service”.
The CIB is funded by the Department of Social Protection, and both the CIB and the Department have been asked for their comments on the situation.