Longford Disabled activist calls on Government for rights not fights

A group of Disabled People has come together to form The Leaders Alliance to call on the Government to stop the Section 39 workers indefinite strike action which is due to start from Tuesday, October 17. 

The newly formed Alliance say they are seriously concerned about the impact of strike action on People with Disabilities and fear that people will be left in their beds without access to food, water, or vital supports which they rely on to go about their daily lives. 

Many Disabled People will have no access to day services, respite services, residential services and independent living supports. 

People will be prisoners in their own homes. 

One of the spokespersons for The Leaders Alliance, Leigh Gath said, “If this strike goes ahead, it will be sending a concrete message from the Irish government that it is acceptable to treat People with Disabilities as second-class citizens, yet again. We fought a similar battle in 2012 and it is so disheartening that we are in the same position again – nothing has changed. This strike is unnecessary. The Government can fix this, with rights, not fights!” 

Section 39 agencies, who are funded under Section 39 of the Health Act, 2004, provide a range of residential and day services, personal assistance for Disabled People, mental health services, addiction services, domestic and sexual violence services, and other supports, under service level agreements with the HSE. Until 2008, workers in these agencies had the same pay and conditions as those who worked directly for the public sector. Since then, the government has allowed a significant gap to develop between those who are working directly for HSE-funded services like acute hospital facilities, and those who are grant-funded but still providing vital services in the not-for-profit sector on behalf of the HSE. 

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Leader Alliance Member and Longford native James Cawley added, “The Alliance have come together as a group of individual Disabled People as we understand the very real and terrifying impact this strike will have on our peers. We don’t believe that there is a real understanding that People with Disabilities are going to be left without the very services and supports we need to get out of bed, go to work, and live our lives on an equal basis to everyone else.”

James went on to say that “It is not up to us to say what independence should mean to each Disabled Person. But the range of services being affected here will have a direct impact on us all. Today we are speaking up for all our disability community, those who have fought this very fight before, and those who do not have a voice to fight for themselves.”

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The Leaders Alliance are calling on the Government to show Disabled People that they understand this and respect the very workers who support us in living the independent lives that everyone else takes for granted. James explained that “All workers doing the same job deserve pay parity. The services I require to live my life should be recognised in the same way and treated on an equal basis. That is why I support this strike action and the vital importance of the Leaders Alliance on this issue.”

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Impacts of the indefinite strike action: 

• Disabled Peoples’ basic needs will be ignored by decision makers.
• Employees of Section 39-funded organisations and their vital work will be disrespected. 
• Many Disabled People will be left in bed unable to have the personal assistance they need.
• Many people with Intellectual Disabilities will not have access to day services or respite services; they will be prisoners in their own homes.
• Ireland will be in serious violation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) because people won’t be able to participate in life on an equal basis with others. 
• Employees who are dedicated to their vital frontline work will be forced not to turn up for work, letting those they support down. This will cause untold distress on all sides.

What the Leaders Alliance are calling for:

• For the Government to uphold their obligations under the UN CRPD.
• Disabled People to be shown basic respect as rights holders. 
• Due recognition of the importance of the threatened services.
• Employees supporting People with Disabilities to be shown basic respect and given pay parity in line with others doing the same work.
• The Government to intervene to stop the strike. 
• Meaningful pay talks to resume without delay.