Disruption expected as CareDoc workers to strike in five counties today
Ottoline Spearman
CareDoc workers are set to go on strike for 24 hours from Thursday in five counties.
The workers, represented by The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and SIPTU, confirmed the strike action on Wednesday, after no "meaningful engagement" had taken place with CareDoc to avoid the dispute.
The one-day strike begins at out-of-hours GP care clinics from 8am on Thursday.
The strike will take place St Dympna’s Hospital in Carlow, HSE Community Care in Waterford, Primary Care Centre in Wexford, Ayrfield Medical Centre in Kilkenny and The County Clinic in Clonmel.
The unions are seeking the implementation of the 2023 WRC pay agreement for Section 39 organisations, specifically the 8 per cent increase due to members working in CareDoc.
They say that HSE has already provided €647,834 to Caredoc to pay staff, but this has not yet happened.
INMO Industrial Relations Officer Gráinne Walsh said that CareDoc seem to be "philosophically opposed to using their profits to pay their staff a fair wage".
"Our members have no desire to withdraw their services in the middle of winter, but all other avenues have been exhausted. We are willing to meet with management and to consider an interim proposal that delivers the funds already provided, along with an agreed mechanism to resolve the outstanding matters. However, Caredoc must demonstrate a genuine willingness to engage.”
SIPTU Health Division Industrial Organiser, Ger McNally said: “SIPTU members have remained available to engage with management to find a resolution throughout this process. Unfortunately, in the absence of any meaningful proposal from management we are left with no alternative but to engage in the proposed Industrial action.”
