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SIPTU representatives demand that any new home care scheme prioritises people over profit
SIPTU representatives have today (Tuesday, 17th June) said that any plans to introduce a new home care scheme must prioritise people over the profits of private care companies.
SIPTU Sector Organiser, Marie Butler said: “Over recent days, it has emerged that the Government will not in a position to meet the demands of the service or to deliver on its promise of an extra 800 directly employed staff and 670,000 home care hours in 2019. The Government claims that investment in home care has increased by 50% since 2015 and that there is €450 million being spenton the service this year. However, our members are asking where is all that money going? The elephant in the room is that tens of millions of euro are being paid into private hands.
The Government pays agencies up to €28 per hour to provide home support. The average wage for non-unionised home care workers is less than €12 per hour. These healthy profit margins should be curtailed and reinvested in the service. Otherwise, we will continue to go around in circles. Any new deal for home care must be run for people, not for profits.”
Secretary of the SIPTU Health Care Support Assistants (HCSA) Committee, Katherine Dowling, said: “Directly employed home care support assistants provide exceptional value for money and enable elderly people to remain in their home or be safely discharged from hospital. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has confirmed that it will not be in a position to allocate hours to new applicants until November. This is an effective freeze on the most vulnerable people in our communities. It’s not acceptable.”
SIPTU Industrial Organiser, Ted Kenny, said: “Any potential freeze is going to have a major impact on older citizens in need of care, on their families and on people with a disability. It will also put major pressure on hospitals because of delayed discharges and force older people into nursing homes. The Government must now move to provide the necessary funding to meet the expectations of the public and the 6,000 people waiting on home care support.”
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Securing best deals for the public good
Ireland spends billions each year in public procurement. We should be getting the greatest possible benefit from public money spent in this way and making powerful use of the associated leverage.
EU Directives introduced in 2014 allow for a stronger social and environmental dimension to procurement by public bodies. Unfortunately, that potential has been underused and recent controversies have made it clear that we are not only missing opportunities, we are creating problems.
That is why, I brought forward a new Bill to place quality at the heart of public procurement in Ireland.
“Currently, contracting authorities usually chose between a ‘price- quality’ or a ‘lowest price only’ approach when designing calls for tender. The collapse of UK construction giant Carillion seems to have arisen among other things from underbidding to win public contracts and the subsequent liquidation of its Irish sub-contractor halted work on six important school projects here.”.
“An approach which automatically favours the lowest bidder tends to benefit companies which are in a position to put in an undercutting bid. Last year a health expert informed an Oireachtas committee that Irish laboratories tendering for cervical screening in 2007/8 were told they had scored highly on quality and turn-around time but not on cost.
The contract was subsequently awarded to a US provider.
The Contract Preparation and Criteria Bill, would make ‘price:quality’ the default, requiring companies bidding for public contracts to compete on quality as well as price.
Public authorities can still opt for lowest price only but that requires sign off at senior level and a published rationale. The aim is to encourage more thought and accountability at an earlier stage in the process.
This does not mean that procurement becomes more expensive. In the Netherlands, where similar laws were introduced, 73% of contracts still went to a lower bidder but those companies also brought quality to the table.
Researchers there found that a price:quality ‘approach more than doubled the overall benefits to the public as purchaser.
In the case of the billions earmarked under the National Development Plan 2019–2027, the Bill raises the bar by setting a mini- mum target of 50% quality criteria on any major project.
There are wide definitions of quality under the EU Directives, but the Bill requires public authorities to give due consideration to guidelines from the Office of Government Procurement that contain established policy targets and commitments in areas such as climate change, employment and social inclusion.
Lastly, the Bill encourages greater awareness around the Public Sector Duty on Equality and Human Rights by requiring public bodies to provide updates on that duty in their annual procurement reports.
This Bill is not only in line with EU law on procurement, it also reflects a wider momentum for change within Europe’s economic policies.
It is increasingly clear that many economic mechanisms could be redesigned to deliver more for the collective common good. A strong, active interpretation of EU procurement law is one step in the right direction.
This is fundamentally about joined-up thinking. By changing the process and culture around public procurement we can deliver tangible benefits in terms of sustainability, standards and social impact.
The Public Authorities and Utility Undertakings (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2019 passed in the Seanad on Wednesday 3rd April with the Government abstaining and all other parties supporting.
This article was written by Senator Alice Mary Higgins. Alice-Mary Higgins is an independent Senator on the NUI panel and leader of the Civil Engagement Group
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Talks over health dispute adjourned
SIPTU representatives have confirmed this evening (Thursday, 13th June) that talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) aimed at resolving a dispute on job evaluation have adjourned until Monday 17th June.
SIPTU Health Divisional Organiser, Paul Bell said: “SIPTU representatives entered talks today with the employer with no great expectations, so we leave this evening feeling no great disappointment. We were invited back to the WRC on Monday at 2.30pm and have accepted this invitation.”
He added: “As it stands, the strike will go ahead next Thursday (20th June) and our members are continuing to put in place plans for our day of action in pursuit of pay justice.”
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Update: WRC Mental Health Nursing (Enhanced Nurse Contract Talks)
This is an important update regarding the proposed introduction of the Enhanced Nurse role within Mental Health services and related issues.
SIPTU representatives returned to the Workplace Relations Commission on Thursday, 13th June regarding these matters. The employer was represented by HSE, Dept of Health and Dept of Public Expenditure & Reform officials. Within conciliation, the following issues were discussed:
- Proposed Contract of Employment for Enhanced Nursing within Mental Health Services: this matter has been advanced but is not yet concluded to our satisfaction. Parties are continuing efforts to develop a draft of a contract which is acceptable to all sides.
- Subsidiary issues relating to the proposed introduction of Enhanced Nursing within Mental Health Services: there are a few pay related issues which remain outstanding concerning the proposed introduction of enhanced nursing within mental health services. Further effort is committed to resolving these issues as part of the package of measures to be offered.
- Employer FAQ relating to Proposed Contract of Employment for Enhanced Nursing: employers representatives informed SIPTU they were preparing an explanatory faq document to undermine the specific requirements for those undertaking the proposed enhanced nurse role. We understand this includes specific reference to the required amount of flexibility re location and rostering. SIPTU has demanded sight of this document in advance of any member being requested to consider the proposed contract for enhanced nursing. SIPTU has confirmed to the employer that no nurse or midwife should be asked to consider a contract of employment while the employer is withholding significant documentation such as their explanatory document outlining required flexibility.
- Proposed Terms of Reference (Expert Review): SIPTU has demanded receipt of the proposed Terms of Reference for the recommended Expert Review of Nursing/Midwifery grades. This review was proposed within the recent Labour Court recommendations and will seek to examine detailed aspects of the nursing/midwifery workforce including grading.
- Nurse Management Structures – Mental Health (Area Directors of Nursing): Parties have agreed to prioritise the examination of existing nurse management structures within mental health. The commitment is to restart this process imminently and conclude same by the 1st November 2019. This examination will include a mechanism to address the long standing grading issue for Area Directors of Nursing. SIPTU confirmed to the Commission the deep frustration of our members and the need for an accelerated process to conclude this outstanding claim as one of priority.
- Advanced Nurse Practitioners – Mental Health: employer representatives confirmed the target of 2% (of the workforce) for appointment of advanced nurse practitioners will apply within mental health. This is consistent with the previous recommendation of the Labour Court and the target which will apply in the other sectors of the profession.
- Current Contracts v Enhanced Nursing: employers confirmed their intent that no enhanced incremental advancement will apply to current eligible nurses who remain on existing contract.
Please note the Workplace Relations Commission adjourned conciliation last evening and has invited parties to return on Friday, 28th June 2019 to advance all matters referred to above.
SIPTU has accepted this invitation. Further updates will issue as issues develop and negotiations advance. If you have queries relating to any matters arising, please contact your local SIPTU Organiser for guidance.
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SIPTU to enter WRC talks in health dispute
SIPTU Health representatives have accepted an invitation to attend exploratory talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) today (Thursday, 13th June) at 2.30pm to discuss the dispute on job evaluation.
The dispute has led to the scheduled strike action of 10,000 health workers, which is due to commence on Thursday, 20th June.
SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said; “We have accepted the invitation from the WRC to attend the talks. We will use these talks as an opportunity to restate our members’ position that the Government must make every effort to resolve this dispute. Failure to resolve this dispute will undoubtedly bring pressures on the delivery of health services.”
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Can you make a difference to our team?
SIPTU is establishing a panel from which vacancies for Organiser positions which may be filled over the next year or so.
Full information on how to apply here
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Where SIPTU is making the games people play now
Few SIPTU Health members may realise that if you are playing Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, Guess Who, Connect 4, Battleships, Cluedo, Top Trumps, 30 Seconds or Sequence there is a very strong possibility that they were produced by fellow SIPTU members in the Cartamundi Ireland Ltd in Waterford City.
These are just some of the products produced at Europe’s largest games manufacturing facility in the Cartamundi Group. The Waterford plant opened in 1977 and since then it has produced tens of millions of board games.
Initially, the plant was run by Hasbro but since 2015 it has been part of the Belgian family-owned Cartamundi Group.
SIPTU Chief Shop Steward Tom ‘Tucker’ Healy, said: “The company believes in excellence through investment in its people. Such an approach works well with the aims of the trade union to see workers leading fulfilling working lives with good conditions and wages that can support a family life.”
Such an approach has resulted in many of its approximately 280 full-time SIPTU members remaining at the plant for decades. Tom has been employed in the plant since 1987 while his fellow shop steward, Bridget Burrows, has 32 years of service.
“When I started working here I didn’t think I would be here for that length of time. However, I work with a great team of people. This plant has allowed me to rear my daughter and send her to university, so it’s also been a rewarding place to work.”
The workforce is mainly drawn from the local Waterford area, with some travelling from south Tipperary and south Kilkenny.
The plant also has a strong tradition of family members working together. Shop Steward, Jane Millea, has worked at Cartamundi for 18 years, her brother also works in the plant and her mother is a former employee. “It’s that sort of place,” she said. “People work here and are happy with it so family members are also interested in getting a job.”
Recent years have provided challenges for the company, with some games production lost to lower cost plants in China and the growth of video games. Tom points out that despite this the plant has weathered the storm. He said: “The plant underwent a restructuring prior to the last recession and even with the rise in popularity of game consoles it has maintained a healthy production schedule with more than 16 million games produced last year.”
With the agreement of the unions, management at the plant has also brought in imaginative initiatives such as whiteboards at each production line for workers to note down their thoughts on improvements. There is also a star reward system by which the production manager rewards staff with tokens for innovation. These can then be used to claim rewards including Cartamundi branded merchandise.
“It’s a system which works well with people pleased to see that their input into the production process is being recognised,” said Tom.
The plant is also a place where many young people get their first experience of being part of the union with the workforce increasing by up to 200 workers during peak production periods. Each of these workers joins SIPTU, even if only for a few months.
General Manager, Barry Morrissey, said: “Cartamundi Ireland are very proud to be part of the Supporting Quality initiative. It is important to us, as an Irish manufacturing company, to our employees, our local community and our customers, to continue to produce quality products here in Waterford.”
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Podcast: SIPTU members speak out on Job Evaluation strike
This morning SIPTU members Natasha Linehan and Ann Marie Tibby joined SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell on Newstalk with Susan Keogh to discuss why 10,000 SIPTU Health members are taking action.
Listen back here
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SIPTU serves notice of strike action by 10,000 health workers in job evaluation dispute
SIPTU members working as support staff and chefs in 38 hospitals and health care facilities have today (Wednesday, 5th June) served notice of a 24 hour work stoppage on Thursday, 20th June, in a dispute concerning the failure to implement pay increases arising from an agreed job evaluation scheme.
The initial action, will involve up to 10,000 SIPTU members providing portering, household and catering services and employed as Health Care Assistants, Maternity Care Assistants, Laboratory Aides, Chefs and Surgical Instrument Technicians.
SIPTU Deputy General Secretary for the Public Sector, John King, said: “It is time for the Minister for Health, Simon Harris and the Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, to step in and resolve this dispute. Failure to do this will undoubtedly bring pressures on the delivery of health services.
“Our members accepted the provisions of all the public service agreements since 2010. The Government must now honour its obligations contained within these agreements. It is time to deliver for these workers. It is unacceptable that workers should be forced to go into an official dispute in order to get what they are owed.”
He added: “SIPTU representatives remain available for talks but such an engagement must be about the practical implementation of these outstanding awards for our members.”
SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said: “SIPTU representatives hoped that this day would never come and that the HSE, Department of Health and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform would see sense, and honour our members’ job evaluation process.
“Members employed in chef grades are also taking action. They co-operated with an independent review process of their pay relationship with similar grades in the public health service and in recent weeks have had their hopes of achieving pay justice dashed.”
He added: “The ball is now in the court of the Government. The Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, has a small three week window to resolve this dispute or face the consequences. Our members voted overwhelmingly by 95% in favour of taking strike action. They will not back down until they win this campaign for pay justice.”