Home helpers protest for fair play
The marchers and SIPTU officials have vowed to fight for the rights of the 10,000 plus workers nationwide until a working agreement, which was written in 2004, is implemented and delivered by the Health Service Executive. The campaigners, who accuse the HSE of downgrading the service and cutting hours, are demanding an end to “zero-hour” contracts. These involve situations where a home help’s pay is cut if their client is hospitalised. They marched from Liberty Hall to the Department of Health and Children on Hawkins Street where a booklet containing comments from 2,000 elderly patients praising the service was handed over&.
Rally organisers Darragh O’Connor and Orlagh Fawl accused the Government of failing workers and cutting their hours by 730,000 hours from 2002 to 2004.
