Running to stand still? Two decades of trade union activity in the Irish long-term care sector

Caroline Murphy,Michelle O’Sullivan

doi:10.1177/10242589211028461

Caroline Murphy, Michelle O’Sullivan

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1177/10242589211028461

Copy DOI

Abstract

This article examines the ongoing efforts of trade unions in Ireland to protect and improve the working conditions of personal care workers amid employment and social policy regimes associated with a liberal welfare state. Comparatively low public expenditure on care and the increasing marketisation of care services have undermined the provision of decent work. This article assesses two major union campaigns related to personal care workers over two decades, and reviews the key priorities that have emerged for unions during the COVID-19 pandemic. We consider whether the outcomes of these campaigns have been converted into enhanced rewards for workers and discuss the continuing challenges for union campaigning.

Highlights

Population ageing and a rising demand for long-term care provision were significant challenges in many developed nations before 2008, but were exacerbated during the global financial crisis, when reductions in public spending created a care gap, leaving insufficient resources to meet demand (Daly and Armstrong, 2016; Lehnert et al, 2019)
Personal care workers are critical to long-term care, accounting for 70 per cent of the workforce in the OECD (OECD, 2020)
A second campaign emerged because of pay cuts imposed on personal care workers in non-profit organisations during the global financial crisis

Summary

Caroline Murphy

Summary This article examines the ongoing efforts of trade unions in Ireland to protect and improve the working conditions of personal care workers amid employment and social policy regimes associated with a liberal welfare state. Resume Cet article examine les efforts deployes actuellement par les syndicats irlandais pour proteger et ameliorer les conditions de travail des travailleurs du secteur des soins aux personnes dans le contexte de regimes d’emploi et de politique sociale associes aun Etat-providence liberal. Cet article evalue deux grandes campagnes syndicales concernant les travailleurs du secteur des soins aux personnes, sur deux decennies, et examine quelles sont les principales priorites qui ont emergepour les syndicats pendant la pandemie de COVID-19. Der vorliegende Artikel beurteilt zwei wesentliche und uber zwei Jahrzehnte durchgefuhrte Gewerkschaftsinitiativen zur Verbesserung der Situation in den Pflegeberufen und untersucht die wichtigsten Prioritaten, die sich fur die Gewerkschaften aus der COVID-19-Pandemie ergeben haben. Keywords Long-term care, personal care, trade unions, working hours, pay cuts, non-profit, COVID-19

Introduction

Findings

Home care workers

Discussion and conclusion