Mayo care workers vote overwhelmingly for strike action

Staff of the Western Care Association in Mayo voted overwhelmingly for strike action with a 99% to 1% vote to advance their pay claims.

Strike days have yet to be decided as three weeks notice must be given to all agencies affected.

Their pay issues relate to their ongoing campaign to have proper pay restoration that has been denied to them and to their campaign to be paid equivalent salaries for similar work carried out by HSE staff.

Strike action days will affect all residential and day services in Western care facilities.

However skeletal staff will be provided in some centres and urgent appointments will be catered for.

Independent candidate, Harry Barrett, has stated that management and the HSE has failed to treat the workers pay claims with respect and they now need to engage seriously to avoid unnecessary stress on the families of those with disabilities being looked after by Western care staff.

"These were the workers that travelled the deserted roads of Mayo in full PPE gear into work during lock-down.

"They did that because of their dedication and connection to the people that they care for.

"But Western care assistants are paid €6,000 less than their HSE equivalents and they are now saying enough is enough.

"Inflation has destroyed their meagre wages and they have oil tanks to fill, petrol to buy and kids to feed and they are now saying that they refuse to be poor," he added.