Wexford CareDoc Workers to Strike for 24 Hours on December 18th

CareDoc workers in Wexford are set to strike for 24 hours starting at 8am on December 18th, 2025, in a dispute over unpaid wages. The industrial action, organized by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and SIPTU, follows unsuccessful attempts to resolve the issue despite funding provided by the HSE to cover pay increases. The unions are calling for the implementation of the 2023 Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) pay agreement for Section 39 organisations, which includes an 8% pay rise for CareDoc staff. Although the HSE has already allocated €647,834 for this pay increase, workers in Wexford have yet to receive it. Both INMO and SIPTU accuse CareDoc management of failing to engage meaningfully with the unions. Pickets will be held at key locations, including the Primary Care Centre on Grogan’s Road in Wexford Town, from 10am to 2pm today December 18th. Other pickets will take place in Carlow, Waterford, Kilkenny and Clonmel. Union representatives will also be available to speak to the media at the Carlow site. The unions have warned that this strike, which will disrupt vital out-of-hours services during the busy winter period, is a last resort. INMO’s Gráinne Walsh emphasized that CareDoc must demonstrate a genuine willingness to resolve the dispute and meet the needs of its staff. SIPTU’s Ger McNally echoed these concerns, calling for CareDoc and the HSE to make proposals to prevent further disruption. The industrial action is set to continue over the Christmas period unless an agreement is reached. The unions stress that it is essential for CareDoc workers to be paid fairly and for the funds allocated by the HSE to be used as intended.