Staff at Longford's St Christopher's commence industrial action

Over 130 staff at St Christopher's in Longford commence industrial action this morning over the ongoing pay row.

Last May a proposed industrial action by the St Christopher's Services staff was postponed as talks in the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) were scheduled.

With little recent movement and no clear signs of a resolution the workers begin a work-to-rule this morning after a long running pay dispute.

Management stated that a HSE directive had prevented the payment of the increments to staff at the intellectual disabilities provider.

The trade union bosses that represent more than 130 staff at a Longford-based intellectual disabilities provider have warned: “Sort it, because we are in this for the long haul.”

Barry Campion, the Longford Sinn Féin North candidate in the general election said: “St Christopher's is at the heart of Longford town and county in so many ways.

“Its staff have been unfairly treated and have missed incremental payments all this year. Staff, service users and all of their families deserve certainty in their employment and the service users and their families deserve certainty in the continuation and guarantee of services.”

Fórsa trade union, who represents the workers, served notice of industrial action on St. Christopher’s on Thursday, October 24. Mr Campion says greater efforts have to be made to bring the sides together: “I stand in solidarity with all at St Christophers and it's only fair that staff have certainty with their pay and service users and their families feel confident in the service going further.

“It's time that locally elected representatives stopped having public spats and found a solution to this problem for once and for all. The service users and staff of Christopher's need security and guarantees not to be a pawn in public squabbles.”

Management say that as a 'Section 39' organisation the terms and conditions for St Christopher's staff differ from those directly employed by the Department of Health and the HSE.