Unions condemn community sector pay cuts

EMPLOYERS in the community and voluntary sector are forcing through pay cuts on a par with salary cuts in the public sector, a move unions have branded illegal.

In a letter sent by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to charity Enable Ireland, the HSE says it understands the provisions of recent legislation aimed at reducing the pay of public servants “will also apply to staff in those grant-aided agencies that are not specifically included in the legislation”.

This effectively means staff in these agencies will suffer reductions of 5% on the first €30,000 of earnings; 7.5% on the next €40,000 and 10% on the next €50,000.