Скачать или смотреть National Advocacy Service bring protest at Government inaction to Taoiseach’s office

National Advocacy Service staff, protested outside the constituency office of the Taoiseach, Simon Harris, in Wicklow to highlight their demand that a Labour Court recommendation on their pay and conditions is respected so they can return to work assisting vulnerable people with disabilities.

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Brendan Carr, said: “Our members in the National Advocacy Service were left with no choice other than strike action due to the refusal of their employer and its funder, the Department of Social Protection, to respect a Labour Court recommendation on their pay and conditions. This comes at the same time as the Government is calling on Aer Lingus pilots to respect the Labour Court.”

He added: “The reality is if the improvements recommended by the Labour Court are not implemented the future of the service is in jeopardy. The terms and conditions of National Advocacy Service staff are markedly inferior to those people who carry out similar work in other agencies. With the announcement of the end to the HSE staff embargo the flow of staff out of the service is likely to greatly increase, this will result in thousands of vulnerable people with disabilities losing a service which is vital to their independent living.”

SIPTU Activist and National Advocacy Service staff member, Suzy Byrne, said: “I and my colleagues are appalled with how we have been treated. We carry out vital and confidential work with some of those most at risk, providing in-person advocacy interventions in areas including housing, access to justice, health care, safeguarding and decision-making support.

“We are all very committed to the service and the people we assist. It is with a very heavy heart that we decided to take strike action. This was only done after we had fully exhausted the state’s industrial relations mechanisms and received a positive Labour Court recommendation which the Government is not minded to instruct its agencies to implement.”

She added: “We want to return to work as soon as possible. However, we also have a responsibility to ensure the long-term viability of the service and to its staff, many of whom are low-paid and struggling financially. We call on the Taoiseach, Simon Harris, and Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, to intervene and bring a just conclusion to this dispute.”