Around 50 healthcare assistants who are employed by Northside Home Care Services in Dublin will begin indefinite strike action today in a dispute over pay.
Their union, the Independent Workers' Union (IWU), said the staff were left out of a pay agreement last year that saw a 9.25% increase agreed for Section 39 workers.
The IWU said staff at Northside Home Care were excluded from the deal as they were recategorised as non-Section 39 workers.
"Our members consider the decision to state that they are "out of scope" a farce and demand that they are brought in line with the other 40,000 workers who stand to benefit from the pay agreement," the IWU said.
"The members of this union do not accept this situation," it added.
Northside Home Care Services is a charity that delivers home care services to young adults with disabilities and older adults in need of care and support.
The service has been contacted for comment.
The Department of Health said it is aware that healthcare workers employed by Northside Home Care Services have notified the organisation of their intention to commence industrial action.
"The Department strongly encourages all parties to engage with the State's established industrial relations mechanisms to work towards a swift resolution in the interest of users of our health services," a spokesperson said.
