IMPACT has reiterated its determination to continue the strike at residential centres for the intellectually disabled until it wins the longstanding claim for pay parity with childcare workers. It has declined to attend today's Labour Court hearing where submissions will be heard from SIPTU and the Health Service Employers' Agency.
Mr Kevin Callinan of IMPACT told the union's health services branch in Dublin last night that members wanted the increases and regradings childcare house parents got last April extended to all house parents, regardless of sector.
He said the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, had entered into an agreement with the union covering all house parents on April 11th. "We want that honoured and we want it honoured immediately. If he does we can get members back to work and clients back to their houses as soon as possible."
The meeting unanimously passed a motion condemning the Government for "singling out the intellectual disability sector for discrimination" and "condemning people with intellectual disabilities to a second-class service.
"It's an insult to people with disabilities and those who care for them, and it will force staff to leave the sector for identical but better paid jobs in residential childcare," the motion said.
Meanwhile, a SIPTU branch secretary, Mr Paul Bell, called on the Health Service Employers Agency "to take a constructive approach to the Labour Court investigation and enable a speedy resolution of the dispute".