The Fórsa trade union has confirmed that planned industrial action by perfusionists next week has been paused.
A dispute over the implementation of Labour Court Recommendation led to strike action at five hospital sites earlier this week.
Last Tuesday, cardiac surgeries in five hospitals were cancelled due to the strike by 25 perfusionists, who are members of the Fórsa trade union.
Perfusionists are cardiovascular specialists who manage the machines that temporarily take over the work of the heart and lungs during surgery.
Fórsa has accused the Health Service Executive of taking a unilateral decision to break a long-standing pay link between perfusionists and medical scientists.
The union has also said that the HSE has refused to implement a Labour Court recommendation to restore that link, issued in January this year.
According to Fórsa, last Tuesday’s 24-hour strike led to the cancellation of 14 cardiac surgeries, including two paediatric cases.
Fórsa said that planned action on Tuesday, 16 June, and Wednesday, 17 June, has now been paused following contact from the HSE late yesterday.
Fórsa said the HSE has confirmed that the Labour Court recommendation will be included on the agenda for forthcoming discussions on a successor public service pay agreement, on the basis that all industrial action is paused.
