Talks are scheduled about the status of Section 39 employees who work for agencies funded by the HSE.
One of the hangovers of the charity model that was promoted by the bishops is that many basic services to disabled people are provided by these agencies.
Section 39 workers, however, are not treated the same as public sector workers. Many do not even get the very small pay increases due under social partnership agreements.
In October, Leo Varadkar, scandalously claimed that when the government gives these agencies a block grant, they cannot insist that the workers get a pay rise.
The result is a huge turnover of staff. Sometimes people do not get the care they need and are forced to stay in bed all day.
Care work must be treated as a proper public sector job. We need to integrate these workers into the public sector and pay them proper rates.
