Health and social care workers in some 'Section 39' organisations are to be balloted for strike action, SIPTU has confirmed.
The union claims the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has refused to fully honour a recent pay restoration agreement.
They're now preparing to ballot thousands of members employed in a "variety of Section 39 organisations".
SIPTU health division organiser Paul Bell suggested the department's actions "will not be tolerated by our members".
He argued: “The number of members involved in this dispute is roughly 6,000. The amount of money the Department requires to fairly resolve it is under €7 million.”
"The continued refusal to fairly treat these vital community health workers, who work in areas such as home care, dementia and alzheimer services, is unacceptable."
Section 39 employees in state-funded voluntary agencies are not technically considered public servants.
However, the workers are seeking full pay restoration after taking a cut along with public servants during the economic crisis.
