Ireland
Members of three trade unions – Fórsa, SIPTU and INMO – are voting on whether to accept a deal that might resolve a long-standing dispute over pay affecting non-profit health providers. The unions have been seeking to restore pay parity between workers in these bodies and directly employed public sector health and social care staff. Strike action was due to begin on 17 October but a revised offer from the employers lead the unions to suspend the action and consult members. Instead of the two-stage 5% increase offered in July, the employers have put forward a 3% increase backdated to 1 April 2023, a 2% increase from 1 November 2023 and a 3% increase from 1 March 2024, so more than 8% within less than 12 months. There is also a commitment to further negotiations starting by 1 December 2023 at the latest that will consider comparability with current and future public sector pay agreements. The government has acknowledged the importance of adequate financing of the non-profit sector in order to fund pay increases and tackle staff shortages.
