Thousands of health workers affiliated with various charitable institutions and volunteer-led organisations supported by Tusla and the HSE, continue to anticipate the execution of pay rises. This was part of a last-ditch agreement to prevent strikes across the sector, an agreement signed in October. Back then, approximately 5,000 employees across 17 organisations, that cater to the needs of the disabled and other vulnerable groups, were on the brink of staging a strike just ahead of the agreement. Apart from the promised pay raises, the deal also included provisions for future discussions centred around rekindling ties with public sector pay.
Health workers were assured of an 8 per cent raise, to be divided in three stages, with the initial 3 per cent being dated back to April of the previous year. However, a considerable number of these workers are yet to receive a large sum of the promised raise, with several having received little to no hike, as per reports by multiple organisations in the sector.
Maria Quinn, a representative of the Coalition of Tusla Funded Grantees, a group that includes bodies such as Bernados, Extern and the ISPCC, said, “Tusla performed a calculation pre-Christmas and proceeded to pay all their beneficiaries a certain percentage of the estimated backlog. A handful of organisations proceeded to pay their employees post this. But several didn’t adhere to this due to concerns of the governing bodies about the overall funding situation and their need for greater assurances. As a result, most of us are unable to process payments for staff.”
It was stated that employees were supposed to receive an additional 2 per cent by November, and the remaining 3 per cent is due in March, however, only the first round of hike has been dispersed to the workforce. “Given if they’ve received anything,” added Quinn.
The current scenario is referred to as “disorganised” throughout the sector. Several employees or even entire organisations have reportedly been deemed ineligible for the pay hike. The reasons cited include funds for specific roles emanating from departments excluded from the agreement or incompatible contract structure. Employers argue that additional costs tied to PRSI or pensions have been ignored.
According to a high-ranking union representative, members of the government tasked with implementing the agreement are accused of attempting to “reinterpret” the terms finalised at the Workplace Relations Commission.
Kevin Figgis, a senior health sector representative from Siptu, aired his frustrations over the way the agreement was being interpreted by some who were not directly involved in its formation. He noted that there was an original expectation for the agreement to impact upwards of 2000 institutions, but now was only set to affect just over 1000. He questioned the whereabouts of the rest of them.
He also expressed concerns about the reinterpretation of the deal by those who had no participation in the agreement’s establishment, deeming it unacceptable. He further accused some parties for allegedly trying to reduce the amount of beneficiaries from the agreed deal and further restoration of wage parity with equivalent public sector employees, a crucial aim for unions and employers.
Small organisations were also voicing their concerns, as Stacey Lyons from the National Voluntary Drug and Alcohol Sector pointed out. She commented that these institutions felt sidelined in terms of payment, giving an impression of being left in an unclear state of affairs. Lyons also noted the toll this was taking on these organisations, particularly those who were uncertain if they could afford to pay their employees without the expected wage hikes.
The Health Service Executive was requested to give their remarks on this issue. In the meantime, the Department of Children, who spearheaded the government’s side during the negotiations, reassured that they were shaping suitable administrative measures with the HSE and Tusla. This was intended to facilitate the provision of the extra wage financing to sections 39 and 56 organisations without losing sight of necessary financial governance and accounting stipulations, inline with the WRC agreement’s terms. Nonetheless, the department admitted that it might take a while before eligible institutions could receive the funding increases.