Community sector unions seek fair pay

TRADE unions representing 60,000 employees in the community sector have demanded that their members are fully and fairly represented in the upcoming round of national pay talks.

Those working in the sector are involved in helping others faced with major personal obstacles in areas such as homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction and disability. Yet, according to SIPTU and IMPACT, the workers are faced with obstacles themselves, mainly due to a lack of government funding. As a result they must endure low pay, poor or non-existent pension provision and job insecurity.

According to IMPACT many are placed on temporary contracts “in organisations that operate hand-to-mouth on short-term funding”.