Community-based organisation employees across the country took part in work stoppages with Siptu as part of the Unions Valuing Community Campaign.
According to Siptu, workers from these organisations are earning the same as they did in 2008, having not received a pay rise in over 14 years.
One such protest took place on Eyre Square, where employees from Galway Rural Development, Galway Rape Crisis, Employability, Oranmore CE Scheme, Claregalway/Annaghdown CE Scheme and Ballinasloe Jobs Club took to the picket line.
Other protests were held in Dublin and Waterford, with support from other community sectors.
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Protests by the Irish Wheelchair Association took place in Dublin, Tuam, Athlone, Clane, Leitrim and Listowel on Tuesday.
The work stoppage in Galway was part of a wider campaign for protection of the services provided by employees in community and section 39 organisations.
Siptu organiser Clement Shevlin, who covers the community and voluntary sector, said this week’s protests were “a warning shot to the Government”.
“Next time out, it will be all out — we will be bringing them out from everywhere and it will slow down these vital services,” he said.
Michelle Rohan, community employment supervisor in Annaghdown, Claregalway’s CE Scheme, said that “with the rate of inflation at the moment standing at 7 or 8 per cent, we were already coming from behind, never mind the situation that we are in now”.
Conor Mahon, CE supervisor in Oranmore/Maree Doughiska in Galway, said the different groups protesting in Galway had “loads in common. We are always helping our community; we are always active in our community and we have also been neglected by successive governments.
“The vast majority of the groupings here have had no pay increase in 14 years. As you can imagine, with double-digit inflation, it is just unsustainable and if the Government don’t act and improve the paying conditions of workers in the sector, they are going to lose a generation of experience,” Mr Mahon said.
Mr Slevin echoed this, saying the recent spikes in inflation were “just going to cripple them, that is just a step too far for them. They are in poverty wages as they are. Now this is a stage where there will be an exodus of these good people out of [the industry] because they just cannot survive in it.”