Cork TD criticises decision to exclude private nursing home staff from pay deal

A Cork TD has criticised the Government’s decision to exclude staff at private nursing homes from the agreed pay increase for Section 39 health workers.

The agreement, reached last week, includes a 9.25% pay increase over two years for up to 40,000 workers in the community and voluntary sector, backdated to October 2024, as well as an automatic link to all future public sector pay agreements to match future pay increases.

However, some staff — including those at private nursing homes — have been excluded from this deal.

Disappointed

A Siptu spokesperson said that they “welcome the progress made”, but “are deeply disappointed that the Government has excluded some of our members’ organisations from this process due to their funding arrangements”.

“This means that certain organisations are ‘out of scope’ and will not have access to the additional funding required to implement these proposals.

“We firmly reject the Government’s approach, which we see as an attempt at divide and rule.

“Rest assured, we will not leave any member behind. We will be engaging directly with all members in Section 39 organisations to discuss our next steps in the fight for pay justice.”

Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins said he welcomed the 9.25% increase for Section 39 workers, “but this latest revelation shows the extent the Government will go to avoid paying people what they rightfully deserve”.

Shocking

“These people take care of the most vulnerable in our society, and to be left out of this increase is a shocking indictment of a Government that is once again refusing to recognise the valuable contribution these workers make to provide care for our older generation.”

Mr Collins said that this move “damages trust and damages people’s confidence that [the Government] will act in the best interests of these invaluable frontline staff”.

Mr Collins added that he will be raising the issue with the health minister at the first opportunity, and called on the Government to extend the pay increase to all care workers.