SIPTU HAVE confirmed that a special pandemic payment that was due to be made to all frontline healthcare workers, but that excluded certain staff members, has been paid to workers who took part in a public protest last week.
Hundreds of contract hospital cleaners were left out of the €1,000 Pandemic Special Recognition Payment that was paid to frontline healthcare workers in recognition of their efforts and thank them for working on the front line throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
Following a public protest outside University Hospital Limerick last Thursday (June 15) by the Forgotten Frontline Heroes campaign to highlight the fact that many contract workers had yet to be paid the €1,000 Pandemic Special Recognition Payment, SIPTU has now confirmed that contract cleaning workers involved in the demonstrations have now received the payment.
Protests also took place at Galway University Hospital and Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.
Commenting on the welcome update, SIPTU Services Division Organiser Teresa Hannick said: “Following the successful day of action by our members in Dublin, Limerick, and Galway, we have received confirmation that the Pandemic Special Recognition Payment has been paid to the workers involved.”
“The speedy processing of this payment shows the power of effective protest. Our members showed tremendous strength and unity over the last number of months to win this campaign.”
The SIPTU representative added that the union will “continue our campaign of actions across the country until every contract services worker in the health sector who worked through the pandemic get what they are entitled to”.
