Members of SIPTU members employed by the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) have voted to go on strike as part of a pay dispute.
The workers say they have not had a pay increase since 2008 and although they do the same work as HSE Healthcare assistants they are paid considerably less.
The first day of action is set for Tuesday July 5th. The industrial action will affect the operation of Irish Wheelchair Association care centres across the country.
The staff are affiliated with SIPTU’s Public Administration and Community Division.
The strike is part of a wider co-ordinated campaign of upcoming industrial action at community, care and Section 39 organisations – these workers are members of SIPTU, Fórsa, INMO and ICTU.
To date the Department of Health has declined to become involved saying Section 39 organisations are privately owned and therefore setting pay rates for their staff is not a matter for the Government.
The dispute is unlikely to effect services at the Tipperary town IWA service centre. It is unclear how this will impact services in Tipperary.
