Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Today in Cork city and county, workers who provide key community services at the Irish Wheelchair Association, EmployAbility and St. Joseph's Foundation are striking for one day. These are section 39 workers, most of whom have not received a pay increase in 14 years. These workers are demanding a pay increase and restoration of the link with public sector pay. In so doing, they are acting to defend services which have been undermined by stagnant pay rates and which face a crisis of recruitment and retention. Tomorrow, strikes will take place in the west of Ireland and, on Friday, in both Cork and Kerry. All in all, 1,000 workers will be included in the action. The Minister cannot credibly pass the buck to the direct employers. These are section 39 health and social care workers and the State has a responsibility to provide sufficient funding to allow for decent pay increases. Will the Minister make provision for that funding in the budget next week or will he be stubborn and bloody-minded, and provoke the escalation of this action, which nobody wants?

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