Health unions to issue notice of industrial action

Health unions will serve the Health Service Executive with notice of industrial action on Monday in a dispute over staff shortages.

The row involves the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, Fórsa, Connect, Unite and the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association.

The action is likely to initially take the form of a work-to-rule which would begin on 31 March, after a three-week notice period.

On Monday, the unions will issue an update to their members on the next steps in the dispute, including the exact nature of the planned industrial action.

Health unions have said that recruitment restrictions and the suppression of posts in the HSE are putting services under enormous strain and are putting patient safety at risk.

In an update to members Phil Ní Sheaghdha, INMO General Secretary, said they can no longer tolerate unsafe working conditions.

“We are now at a point where we have no other option but to serve three weeks’ advance notice of industrial action on your employer, the Health Service Executive and Section 38 voluntary hospitals on Monday morning,” Ms Ní Sheaghdha said in the update.

In November, members of the INMO and Fórsa voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking industrial action.

In an update to Fórsa members, the union’s National Secretary Linda Kelly accused the HSE of consistently refusing to engage in relation to the dispute over its ‘Pay and Numbers Strategy’.

“It’s time to show them what happens when our members stop covering up the cracks in the HSE’s chaotic approach to workforce planning,” Ms Kelly said.

The HSE has described the action as regrettable against the background of additional funding for the health service and increasing staff numbers.

It said that its ‘Pay and Numbers Strategy’ has enabled it to stabilise its workforce numbers and has allowed it to increase staffing levels.

A HSE spokesperson said that any industrial action would be seriously disruptive to the provision of services and will lead to increased delays and longer waiting lists.

“The HSE will seek in every way possible to have this action avoided,” the HSE said.

“It is the view of the HSE, that any industrial action is a breach of the provisions of the Public Service Agreement, which is signed up to, and which they are full beneficiaries of, by all of the unions concerned,” the spokesperson added.