Care workers prepared for industrial action if talks with Government do not resolve pay dispute

Norma Foley is now seeking to reconvene pay talks at the earliest available date. Picture: Stephen Collins/Collins

Up to 27,000 care workers will continue to wait for a resolution to a long-running pay dispute as the Government seeks to re-enter talks.

So-called Section 39 workers — those employed by privately owned charities and agencies that are contracted by the State to provide healthcare services — are paid less than directly-employed HSE staff.