Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow, John Brady, has said that strike action by SIPTU members at St Joseph's Centre in Shankill, part of the St. John of God group, could and should have been averted had there been meaningful engagement and a genuine commitment from management to resolving the dispute.
Deputy Brady said that household and domestic staff deserve fair recognition for the essential work they carry out every day, and that their long-standing claim to be regraded as Multi-Task Attendants must be addressed without further delay.
Deputy Brady said:
“Strike action by SIPTU members at St Joseph's Centre could and should have been averted through meaningful engagement from management and a genuine commitment to resolving this dispute.
“These workers play a vital role in the day-to-day care of residents.
“While they are employed in household and domestic roles, they carry out a much broader range of responsibilities, including caring duties that go well beyond their official job descriptions.
“Despite this, they continue to be denied the recognition, training and pay that their work warrants.
“It is only fair that their grading reflects the duties and responsibilities they already undertake, and that they have access to necessary training when required.
“The workers, through SIPTU, have engaged fully and in good faith with the established industrial relations process, including attending talks at the Workplace Relations Commission.
“It is deeply disappointing that management failed to bring forward credible proposals capable of resolving this dispute.
“This is fundamentally a matter of fairness, respect and properly valuing the essential contribution they make to the care of vulnerable residents.
“I have written to the Board of St Joseph's Centre and to Minister Kieran O'Donnell, urging immediate intervention and meaningful engagement to ensure that every effort is made to bring this dispute to a fair and timely resolution.
“Continued failure to address the legitimate concerns of these workers will only prolong the strike, creating further uncertainty for residents, their families and staff. It is in everyone's interests that meaningful negotiations resume without delay and that a fair resolution is reached.”
ENDS