An effort to avert a strike by hundreds of carers for people with intellectual disabilities is being made this evening.
IMPACT officials are to meet representatives from the Health Service Employers' Agency in a dispute over pay and career structures.
The union served strike notice on behalf of its more than 400 "houseparents" and assistant "houseparents", to take effect on January 21st.
IMPACT claims homes for mentally handicapped will lose staff to the residential child care sector, which is implementing a new remuneration and education structure. The union claims this deal was to apply to carers for people with intellectual disabilities also.
The union expects residents will be sent home once the strike begins.
The homes under strike notice are:
- All Hospitaller Order of St John of God services in Dublin
- St Michael's House
- All Daughters of Charity services in Dublin
- Brothers of Charity Services in Galway
- Galway County Association for Mentally Handicapped Children
