Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2

Section 39 workers explain why they will go on strike on Valentine’s Day.

There 13,000 Section 39 employees in Ireland. They are not public servants, but their employers are grant-aided by the HSE.

SIPTU says these workers should be included in a recent deal on sleep-over allowances secured with the HSE.

Paddy Cole, at SIPTU writes:

“The Government now has a two-week window to bring the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to the table and face up to its responsibilities to Section 39 workers, their patients and their families.”

SIPTU

Yesterday.

Leinster House, Dublin

Protestors (top) seeking pay Justice for Section 39 workers plus (above) Siptu campaign video – Making the difference for Section 39 workers.

The community and voluntary sectors have two two groups of workers.

Section 38 agencies are are funded to provide “a defined level of service on behalf of the HSE” and their staff are included in public service employment numbers.

Section 39 agencies receive grant aid from the HSE to provide services but their employees are not included in the public service roll.

Paddy Cole of Siptu writes:

“Section 39 workers are in our hospices, community hospitals and Rehab facilities. In the intellectual disabilities support sector alone, one in ten workers is employed on a Section 39 contract.

Staff undertake precisely the same work as directly employed HSE staff and must have the same qualifications. The only difference is in the pay packet. It’s time to end this injustice.”

Siptu (Facebook)