Former staff in three insolvent Dublin Sisters of Charity facilities today (Wednesday) staged a socially-distanced protest to highlight their demand for management to meet them and pay them a fair redundancy package.
The closures left over 200 staff out of work and took 160 beds from the capital’s healthcare services. Fórsa and other unions took the case to the Labour Court, which recommended redundancy payments in line with those paid in the public service.
Although the services were run independently, they were funded by the HSE. Unions have called on the agency to maintain the services formerly delivered to residents and families at the Caritas convalescent centre, Saint Mary’s centre, and Saint Monica’s nursing home.
Unions have called on the agency to maintain the services formerly delivered to residents and families at the Caritas convalescent centre, Saint Mary’s centre, and Saint Monica’s nursing home.
They have called on the HSE to engage with unions and patient advocacy groups, to ensure that residents at the facilities are treated with dignity and respect.
Fórsa official Seán McElhinney said the staff had worked throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
“The residents, and their families, have seen the care and compassion with which the workers at Sister of Charity facilities have discharged their duties over the years. It’s essential that this level of quality health is maintained.
“The HSE has to step up to the mark now and give our members assurances that these vulnerable residents, many of whom are like family to the staff, get the care they deserve,” he said.
The HSE has to step up to the mark now and give our members assurances that these vulnerable residents, many of whom are like family to the staff, get the care they deserve.
The staff are also losing out on overtime and holiday due to them.
The Sisters of Charity wrote to the unions late last Friday (14th July) saying they would write to the Charities Regulator in explore ways to alleviate the hardship that followed the abrupt closure of the services.
Fórsa and the other two unions, Siptu and the INMO, are liaising with their members to discuss further actions.
Use the hashtag #PayUpSisters to show your support for the workers on social media.
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