SIPTU members are protesting outside the constituency offices of Taoiseach Micheál Martin and two other Cork-based senior Government ministers this morning.
The protests are in support of a nationwide campaign of industrial action due to take place later this month by thousands of workers in State funded Section 39 organisations over pay restoration and pensions.
The Section 39 workers in 250 organisations across the country want to see the restoration of cuts made in the wake of the 2008 banking collapse.
The constituency offices being picketed are those of Mr Martin, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney.
Speaking outside Mr Martin's constituency office, SIPTU divisional organiser Adrian Kane said there was an agreement in the Work Place Relations Commission in 2018 which provided for the restoration of pay for 50 of the larger Section 39 organisations but there are still 250 organisations "that haven't had a penny restored".
"These are not decisions we want to make but there is utter frustration among the people we represent and we need this issue resolved".
Christine Garde (r) & Cecilia Cronin (l) Southdoc receptionists/drivers say they've been left with no choice but to take industrial action in their bid to restore pay cuts in the wake of 2008 banking crisis. pic.twitter.com/J10HZ5ELxi
— JennïeØSullivân (@OSullivanJennie) December 2, 2020
Christine Garde, who is a receptionist with SouthDoc said neither herself or her colleague Cecilia Cronin wanted to be protesting today outside the Taoiseach's constituency office or those of his ministerial colleagues.
"We have the Government thanking frontline workers every second night of the week and yet they won't give us our restoration which is very, very unfair," she said.
"We don't want to see the patients discommoded in any shape or form - it is not their issue, but we do need to get this resolved."
The nationwide industrial action for pay restoration will begin in a fortnight's time with one-day stoppages commencing initially in Cork at CoAction in west Cork and at SouthDoc in Cork and Kerry.
In a statement issued today, the HSE said it "is disappointed that SIPTU have taken a decision to launch industrial action at some Section 39 organisations at this time. The HSE and other stakeholders remain committed to working with S39s to address issues via the ongoing WRC process and the parties will meet again on 9th December for a further WRC engagement."
Negotiations are underway as to what emergency cover will be given.
