Medical and care staff working for Kerry Parents and Friends have served strike notice and will not report for work from next Tuesday.

The dispute centres on pay disparities. Most medial and care staff employed by the Health and Safety Executive are paid under Section 38 pay structures.

However KPFA is funded by government under Section 39 and that rate is lower that Section 38 employees.

KPFA is having difficulty retaining staff as many to more-lucrative Section 38 jobs.

In a letter seen by the Killarney Advertiser, Marie Linehan, the KPFA’s chief executive outlined her concerns.

She said: “KPFA is losing staff who are taking up employment directly with the HSE or with a Section 38 employer. In the current year, up to the end of July, we have lost a significant number of staff for these very reasons. KPFA fully supports the need for pay parity, and we have long advocated for this. Unions have asked KPFA to address the issue of pay parity for our employees, but we are not funded to do this and we have forwarded this request to the HSE, our primary funders, to seek this level of funding.”

The situation has now escalated and strike action has been served.

Ms Linehan added: “We have in the last week been advised by unions, that following a ballot of their members who are KPFA employees, the have unanimously voted to proceed with strike action.”

Strike action will commence on Tuesday and the staff will not return to work until there is some resolution of a renewed round of talks.

“Obviously, this is a very serious situation and I would like to assure you that we are seeking engagement with unions,” she added, “We also recognise the significantly disruptive impact strike action will have on people we support and their care givers and families and this remains a priority for the Senior Management team.”