Talks are continuing at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) between HSE management and unions in a bid to resolve a dispute over staffing numbers.
A document containing a set of proposals from the HSE was presented to unions this evening and is currently being considered.
It is understood the suggested measures include greater consultation with unions on future staffing decisions, the conversion of certain agency posts to HSE jobs and the introduction of training initiatives.
From Monday, 80,000 health workers will commence a work-to-rule in hospitals across the country.
Members of the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) began a work-to-rule yesterday.
Ahead of today’s talks at the WRC, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and Fórsa informed the HSE that they would be escalating the dispute in the form of a one-day strike at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda next Thursday 3 April.
The unions said that the escalation is due to reports from members that they are being instructed by senior management in the Dublin Northeast Region to continue to book agency workers in all grades and disciplines throughout the period of industrial action that starts next week.
“This instruction demonstrates a complete disregard towards our planned industrial action, and that’s why we’ve served notice this morning to management at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda,” said Fórsa’s head of Health and Welfare, Ashley Connolly.
General Secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation Phil Ní Sheaghdha said the escalation of the dispute was not just about the hiring of agency staff.
“It is about deliberately attempting to undermine the dispute as notified, and to put pressure on people to break the dispute, and that’s inclusive of overtime,” Ms Ní Sheaghdha said.
Today’s talks at the WRC are being attended by the INMO, Fórsa, Unite, Connect and the MLSA. SIPTU and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) are also represented at the talks.
In a statement, the HSE said it is approaching today’s talks with unions at the WRC in a constructive spirit with a view to resolving the dispute in the public interest.
It has previously said that the planned industrial action is regrettable against the background of additional funding for the health service and increasing staff numbers.
According to the HSE, funding provided in 2024 and 2025 will allow the HSE to recruit an additional 6,528 staff in 2025 in addition to replacing departing staff.
It has warned that any industrial action would be seriously disruptive to the provision of services and will lead to increased delays and longer waiting lists.
