Enable Ireland announces industrial action will start tomorrow

Kenneth Fox

Enable Ireland has announced they will go ahead with planned industrial action at all locations nationwide beginning on Tuesday, October 17th.

“Following the notice of industrial action by Fórsa, SIPTU and INMO members at Enable Ireland locations nationwide, we anticipate that there will be substantial disruption to Enable Ireland services, including the closure of many services, from tomorrow onwards and to continue indefinitely."

They said industrial action is part of a campaign for equal pay now and in the future for staff of Enable Ireland who do similar work to colleagues in the HSE and other Section 38 voluntary organisations, but receive substantially lower pay.

"For many years, Enable Ireland has advocated for a return to pay parity and alignment for our staff and we fully support staff demands for equal pay with HSE and Section 38 staff.

"While we support the requested pay increase, we are not in a position to fund it directly. As of October 1st, the pay parity gap in Enable Ireland is currently costed at €5.7 million per annum.  Enable Ireland do not have the funding to pay for this.

"For 30 years, Enable Ireland staff pay was aligned with their colleagues in the HSE. This alignment was broken following the recession and since then Enable Ireland staff salaries have fallen further behind and will continue to fall behind until this situation is addressed.

"We are calling on the Government to urgently intervene in this dispute and provide the funding required for equal pay now and in the future for Enable Ireland staff.

"We are very aware of how difficult this situation is for the thousands of families and individuals who rely on our services. Our valued employees are essential to deliver these critical services to children and adults and their families.

"This pay inequity has created a recruitment and retention crisis for Enable Ireland’s services resulting in significant vacancies in our services for children and adult. High vacancy and staff turnover rates negatively impact the quality and quantity of services we can offer to children, adults and their families."

They said unless it is resolved, this issue will continue to impact the long-term sustainability of Enable Ireland.