Workers in community and voluntary sector organisations, funded by the Health Service Executive and other State agencies, are preparing to take indefinite strike action from next Tuesday, 17 October.
The action was announced last month and will involve around 5,000 workers in a variety of grades and in multiple locations, bringing services to a halt.
The organisations that will be impacted include Enable Ireland, the Irish Wheelchair Association and Family Resource Centres.
Unions say that health and social care professionals employed in agencies funded by the HSE are paid significantly less than equivalent workers employed directly by the HSE and other state bodies.
The decision to strike follows ballots carried out by Fórsa, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and SIPTU.
With less than four days to go before the indefinite strike commences, the unions said the Government must come to the negotiating table and end the pay inequality that has led to the planned strike action.
Martha Buckley is a healthcare assistant, caring for older people and is a member of SIPTU.
"The Government has forced us into this position by letting us down time and time again. We don't want to be doing this, but we have no other option," Ms Buckley said.
Ellie Horgan is a paediatric occupational therapist with Enable Ireland and a member of the Fórsa trade union.
She is finishing her job today and moving to a new position where terms and conditions match those paid to HSE employees.
"There’s still time to solve this. The strike is due to commence in less than four days. There is still time for the Government to take this seriously," Ms Horgan said.
"Section 39" organisations are contracted to provide services on behalf of the HSE for a funding grant in accordance with Section 39 of the Health Act 2004.
The Department of Health said that recent engagements with unions at the WRC had resulted in an offer of a 5% increase in funding for pay effective from November, with 3% backdated to April.
"A commitment to re-engage with trade union representatives following any further public sector pay agreement was also offered," the department said.
"This combined offer was not accepted by trade union representatives, and it is disappointing that their members were not afforded the opportunity to vote on whether they wished to accept the 5% increase in pay funding.
"The offer was in line with those accepted by community and voluntary staff in other sectors," the department added.
The Department of Health also said that while the Government has engaged in this process, Section 39 and Section 56 organisations are privately owned and operated, and the terms and conditions of employment for staff in those organisations are ultimately between the employer and their employee.
Workers in the following organisations will take indefinite strike action from Tuesday 17 October:
Ardeen Cheshire Ireland
Ability West
Cheshire Ireland
Cheshire Dublin
Cheshire Home Newcastle West
Cobh Hospital
Daughters Of Charity Child and Family Service
DePaul Ireland
Don Bosco Care
Enable Ireland (nationwide, including Cork, Tralee, East Coast and Midwest regions)
Family Resource Centres
Irish Wheelchair Association
Kerry Parents and Friends
St Catherines Association Ltd
St Josephs Foundation
St Lukes Nursing Home
Western Care Association
