SIPTU members employed at the National Advocacy Service (NAS) have suspended their strike action following agreement on theimplementation of a Labour Court recommendation concerning pay and conditions.
Pickets were placed at NAS locations across the country this morning as part of the work stoppage.
NAS provides assistance to more than 1,500 disabled people each year with in-person advocacy interventions in areas including housing, access to justice, health care, safeguarding and supporting in decision making.
Staff said they were willing to remain on strike for as long as it took to secure the acceptance by management of the terms of a Labour Court recommendation on their pay and conditions secured in January.
"Thankfully, management have now indicated that it will implement the Labour Court recommendation in full," said SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, John King.
"This has allowed our members to suspend their strike action and enter negotiations with management on its full implementation," Mr King said.
SIPTU said that the current pay and conditions for staff were resulting in an inability to recruit new workers and were seeing experienced staff leaving.
The union said it will meet with management on 24 June to begin the process of the implementation of the Labour Court recommendation.
The National Advocacy Service said it was pleased to confirm that regular services will resume as normal from tomorrow following agreement with SIPTU to postpone strike action for a two-week period.
The NAS said the postponement would allow time for a scheduled meeting aimed at resolving the pay dispute.
"We are grateful for the decision by SIPTU union members to postpone the strike," said Joanne Condon, NAS National Manager.
"This two-week period provides a valuable opportunity to fully address the pay issues at the heart of this dispute.
"Our priority remains the well-being and support of those who need our service, and we are committed to ensuring uninterrupted service during this time."
