STAFF AT a nursing home in the Co Donegal Gaeltacht have voted for a 24-hour work-stoppage in pursuit of their claim for terms and conditions comparable to those of HSE employees.
The action by maintenance and administrative staff, who are members of the Siptu trade union, at the Bainistíocht Áras Gaoth Dobhair Teoranta, in Gweedore, is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 1st, and expected to last until 8am the next morning.
A Siptu spokesman said everything possible would be done to avoid discomfort or inconvenience for patients at the 41-bed nursing home.
Staff are pursuing the action as they do not enjoy the same terms and conditions as HSE staff in comparable positions in other facilities. The Áras Gaoth Dobhair home was established in 2004 on a partnership basis between the HSE, Údarás na Gaeltachta and a local community group.
Martin O’Rourke, Siptu branch organiser, said the director of services at the facility was a HSE employee, while two community care managers there had been nominated by the HSE as part of its management team.
“However, Siptu members, who comprise the majority of the 47 employees . . . do not enjoy the same terms and conditions of employment as similar grades within the HSE. Union members have waited patiently for over three years to have their employment issues resolved.”
Last month the Labour Court issued recommendations on pensions, sick pay and shift allowances. These were rejected by a large majority by the Siptu members.
“Siptu issued notice of industrial action to the company on August 6th, 2009, to allow it the best possible opportunity to resolve the dispute. Regretfully, we have yet to receive any meaningful proposals which might resolve the outstanding issues,” said Mr O’Rourke.
He said the union remained available for talks.
A spokeswoman for the home’s management could not be contacted last night.
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