The SIPTU and Forsa trade unions organised strike action across publicly-funded (Section 39) health and social services organisations on 21 February as part of a long-running campaign to get workers' pay restored following the cuts that were implemented as part of austerity measures. Many of these workers do the same or similar jobs as directly employed public servants who have seen their pay restored. The threat of strike action lead to a deal for around 500 home care workers who suspended their action, but many other workers are continuing their campaign to try to secure an agreement.
Home care workers get pay restoration but other workers continue campaign
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Union campaigns on pay restoration for care workers
The SIPTU general union is pushing the government to increase funding to ensure that around 10000 care workers get the pay restoration that has been negotiated for workers directly employed in the public sector. At the time of austerity measures the government cutback on the grant going to so-called Section 39 providers and this had a direct impact on the disability and other care workers they employed. A three-year, public sector-wide agreement has been signed which will provide pay restoration for the majority of workers over the next three years. SIPTU is determined that these Section 39
Home care workers' campaign continues into third month
Home care workers in the Basque region of northern Spain are in the third month of their campaign to secure better pay and employment conditions. Their latest partial work stoppage took place on 25 January and further action is planned for 12 and 27 February to put pressure on city councils and the regional council to act on the low pay and precarious employment conditions that are common to the contracts run by private companies across the region. EPSU sent a solidarity message.
Union calls for pay rise to be paid and other rights to be restored
The public service federations within the CCOO confederation have called on the government to pay an additional increase of 0.25% for 2019 that would take the increase this year to 2.5% and ensure an increase in purchasing power for public sector workers. The 0.25% is part of an agreement where pay increases are linked to increases in economic output (GDP). The unions are concerned that the government has known since January that the payment would be due but has taken no action. The CCOO federations are also giving further impetus to their campaign to restore rights lost under austerity