Staff at a community disability service in Longford have served notice of industrial action on management over a pay dispute.
Fórsa members working at St Christopher's Services in the town town notified management that the action will take the form of a work to rule which is due to start on 28 May.
Over 130 union members voted in favour of industrial action last week. A total of around 300 staff are affected.
The threatened action centres on the failure of the Health Service Executive to sanction incremental pay increases that unions claim are due to staff under pre-existing agreements.
In a letter to management, Fórsa Assistant General Secretary Tony Martin said: "The issues in dispute are clear, the employer’s unilateral decision to disregard the WRC (Workplace Relations Commission) agreement, dated 2021 and inform our members that salary increments will not be paid as and when they fall due."
Fórsa added that the HSE requested the payment of increments be suspended until further notice as it was unable to provide the necessary funding.
Mr Martin said while it is regrettable that members have been left with no option but to plan for industrial action, they will not tolerate the breach of an existing agreement.
St Christopher’s Services is a Section 39 agency - one of many privately-run organisations and charities contracted by the State to provide services in the areas of health, children's services and homeless services.
Its Chief Executive Derek Scanlon said he was disappointed the dispute had reached this stage.
Management, he said, had hoped to be able to pay staff as the increments were promised under previous agreements.
"The problem has arisen as the HSE has been unable to provide funding to us. The HSE is our main funder and we are in constant contact with them.
"We hope to us the WRC mechanism as discussed with union representatives, and we’re hopeful the WRC will facilitate us quickly due to the nature of our services," Mr Scanlon said.
He added that as per other Section 39 agencies, the provision of essential services will be continued and said he hopes the dispute can be resolved in the coming weeks.
A HSE spokesperson said the executive is "continuing to work with St Christopher’s Services to sustain their future as an important provider of disability services in the midlands."
The work-to-rule will mean that Fórsa members will not attend work outside of their contracted hours and won’t engage in planned overtime.
In addition, they will not take on any tasks, functions or duties associated with a higher grade, will limit their use of personal phones for work purposes and will cease the use of personal vehicles for work purposes.
Mr Martin advised that union representatives remain available to meet with management to discuss any necessary contingency plans.
"We remain available for discussions to settle this industrial dispute. Management and the HSE need to understand the resolve of Fórsa members at St Christopher’s is strong, and that this action will commence in three weeks unless the matter is resolved," he said.
