Charity organizations advocating for fair pay for staff delivering essential services to the State have sent a letter to the Taoiseach, urging for sustainable funding. The letter highlights the under-resourcing and funding cuts that have jeopardized service delivery in areas such as housing, health, and disability supports.
The push for fair pay comes after a pay agreement in October 2023, which narrowly avoided strike action by 5,000 workers across 17 organizations. While the government offered an 8% increase in funding for wages, there is concern over the delayed implementation of the Public Service Agreement 2024-2026.
The organizations stress that sustainable funding is crucial for ensuring the continuity and quality of public service delivery. They are calling for a cross-departmental, whole-of-Government approach that includes multi-annual funding to provide certainty for service users, staff, and management.
This collaborative effort is spearheaded by prominent organizations like the Disability Federation of Ireland, Dublin Homeless Network, and Simon Communities of Ireland. The letter aims to emphasize the significance of fair pay in upholding the vital services provided by these community and voluntary sector bodies.