THE Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has been accused of “washing his hands” of a pay dispute involving workers providing essential services during the pandemic. Hundreds of staff at HSE-funded health and social service organisations are planning to ramp up industrial action in a long-running row over their pay. Siptu said in a statement that Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, declined an invitation from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to intervene. “These are the very same workers who made sure essential services have been maintained throughout this Covid-19 pandemic. Independent.ie has contacted the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for a comment.

Source: Irish Independent October 07, 2020 18:00 UTC