05/11/2012

Over 2,000 People March In Protest Against Home Help Services Cuts

More than 2000 people took to the streets of Cork on Saturday, 3rd November, to protest against cutbacks to Home Help services.

Marchers carrying a symbolic coffin with words 'Home Help Service RIP' led the defiant crowd who had travelled from across the country to mark the launch of SIPTU's Time To Care campaign.

The new national campaign is aimed at organising Home Helps to defend the vital services they provide from budget cutbacks and ongoing privatisation. Pipers and drummers kept spirits high on a bright and sunny afternoon and the protestors received a rousing welcome from the shoppers and taxi drivers in Cork city centre as they marched from Connolly Hall to Grand Parade.

Participants in the SIPTU organised rally called on Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly, and the Health Service Executive to end their short sighted policy of slashing Home Help services.

SIPTU Organiser, Ted Kenny, said: "500,000 home help hours have already been removed in 2012 and now the HSE is seeking to slash a further 600,000 hours before the end of this year.

"It would seem that the most vulnerable in our society are being made suffer for the benefit of private for profit health companies who stand to benefit once the HSE has overseen the destruction of our highly efficient home help service."

(CD)

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30 August 2012
SIPTU To Defend Home Help Services
The SIPTU national campaign to defend Home Help services is convening a series of meetings in Sligo and Leitrim during September. SIPTU Organiser, Annette Carpenter, said: "All HSE Home Helps in the Sligo and Leitrim area are requested to attend one of the meetings.
01 November 2012
Protest Held Against Cuts To Home Help Services
Over 400 members of the SIPTU Health Division and their supporters held a rally outside the Department of Health on to protest against cuts to Home Help services and creeping privatisation. SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said the union was bringing its protest to the Minister for Health James Reilly's "doorstep".
20 November 2012
SIPTU Home Helps To March Tomorrow
SIPTU Home Helps and their supporters from across the midlands will march tomorrow in Tullamore to protest against cuts to Home Help services. The workers will assemble at the SIPTU Unity Hall, Church Street, at 3.00 p.m. and march to the Health Service Executive (HSE) Central Offices, Arden Road.
28 November 2012
Call For Home Help Job Cuts To Be Reversed
Speaking at a SIPTU public meeting in Roscommon town Fine Gael TD, Frank Feighan, conceded that cuts to home help services were wrong. He said that he would be bringing this issue back to the attention of Minister for Health, James Reilly, and will seek the reversal of the cuts.
12 November 2012
Home Helps To Protest Against Cuts
SIPTU Home Helps and their supporters from across the midlands will march on Wednesday, 21st November, in Tullamore to protest against cuts to Home Help services. The workers will assemble at the SIPTU Unity Hall, Church Street, at 3.00 p.m. and march to the Health Service Executive (HSE) Central Offices, Arden Road.