IWA expresses disbelief over Section 39 pay delays

The Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) has called on the Government to deliver on its commitment to resolve the pay issues affecting Section 39 organisations, like IWA.

Section 39 agencies are privately owned charities and organisations contracted by the State to provide health services.

In October 2023 an interim agreement was reached at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) with a view to restoring pay parity with HSE grades for similar roles.

Unions met with representatives from various government departments yesterday to discuss the matter but were told by the negotiators that they had no mandate to address the issue.

The issue of pay for Section 39 workers came to the fore in recent days following an encounter between the Taoiseach Simon Harris and disability worker Charlotte Fallon in Kanturk, Co Cork.

The IWA said that the failure to resolve pay issues is undermining the critical services that it delivers on behalf of the HSE.

"We continue to support our employees in their call for equal pay with their HSE counterparts," said Ann Marie O'Grady, CEO, Irish Wheelchair Association.

"The Government made promises over a year ago to have meaningful engagement with the sector around pay parity and they need to deliver on their promises," Ms O'Grady said.