Timmins Calls on Government to Avert Planned Strike in Handicapped Sector
Wednesday, January 16th, 2002
By Tony Murphy
The government was today urged to avert a proposed strike that will seriously affect the County Wicklow Association for Mentally Handicapped. The call was made by Fine Gael Deputy, Billy Timmins in relation to a strike planned by the Impact trade union staff in the mental handicap sector that is due to go ahead next Monday.
`The problem has arisen because the Government failed to implement a new pay and
career structure which was agreed last year and now, if the strike goes
ahead, residents cared for by the Co Wicklow Association for Mentally Handicapped
will be sent home', said Deputy Timmins.
He added that the new measures were negotiated by Impact officials and are designed to improve services by introducing better staff qualifications and stemming recruitment and retention problems. `To date, the Health Services Employers Agency, which represents health employers, has forbidden intellectual disability agencies to introduce the new arrangements', he said.
Deputy Timmins pointed out that Minister Micheal Martin was alerted to this problem last spring but so far he has failed to act. `It's a disgrace that care staff have to engage in industrial action to secure structures already approved by the Government', he said.
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