LAST UPDATE | 11 Mar 2025

UNIONS REPRESENTING UP to 40,000 health workers in the charity and voluntary sectors have reached an agreement with government representatives on a long-running pay and conditions dispute.

The deal, finalised last night at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), outlines a series of proposals designed to bring an end to the ongoing conflict in the community and voluntary sector.

The agreement was reached after negotiations between union members and Government representatives, which lasted several hours.

According to the Department of Equality, the deal includes a 9.25% pay increase over two years, from October 2024 to October 2026, and a commitment to include workers in the community and voluntary sector in future public sector pay agreements.

In a statement last night, SIPTU said the set of proposals reached are a “step forward in securing fair pay and recognition Section 39 workers”.

However, SIPTU cautioned that “not all issues are resolved”.

SIPTU said that a consultation process will now take place with members once the proposals are issued for their consideration.

Last month, SIPTU members employed in Section 39 organisations had voted overwhelmingly for strike action in relation to the pay dispute.

SIPTU warned at the time that if the government “falls short again, our members have delivered a mandate for action to be taken in this dispute”. 

Section 39 organisations are charities and organisations contracted by the State to provide health services.

They work across a number of areas, including disability and primary care.

Agreement terms

According to Government representatives, the 9.25% pay increase for voluntary health workers will also include an automatic link to all future public sector pay agreements to match all future pay increases.

The pay rises will be implemented gradually over the two-year period – assuming an average salary for a Personal Care Assistant at €34,000, the proposed phased pay increase would mean that their salary would increase to around €35,800 by the end of 2025 and €37,260 by year end 2026.

The Department of Equality decribed the agreement as “unprecendented”.

“In funding terms, the deal amounts to an increase of roughly €140m annually in additional investment for these organisations to support delivery of their services and supports,” a Department spokesperon said.

The agreement also includes  approximately €71m in State funding for disability organisations and around €20m for child and family welfare support groups each year through schemes operated by the HSE and Tusla respectively.

Minister for Equality Norma Foleysaid that she was “delighted with the historic outcome” of the agreement.

“I appreciate the goodwill of everyone who sat around the table to reach this agreement for the dedicated workers who provide invaluable supports and services,” Foley said.

Liam Berney, Senior Industrial Officer with ICTU, said union members would now be given the opportunity to consider what is being proposed.

“We’ve had a set of proposals that were developed over the course of negotations today, and these will be considered by unions over the coming days,” Berney told RTÉ News yesterday.

Historically, the pay for Section 39 workers was linked to HSE staff, but during the economic crash, these organisations were instructed to impose pay cuts in line with those made on HSE staff.

However, during the recovery, HSE staff pay was restored, but additional funding to restore the pay of Section 39 organisation staff was not provided.