THE IRISH NURSES and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and Fórsa are today serving formal notice of industrial action to the HSE and Section 38 voluntary hospitals amid an ongoing dispute over staffing levels.
The industrial action will take the form of a work-to-rule, with healthcare workers set to refuse overtime and out-of-hours duties requested by management, according to a statement released by Fórsa. The unions indicated that complete instructions regarding the industrial action will be issued today.
This move follows a November ballot in which over 90% of members from both unions voted in favor of industrial action in response to what they have described as a “staffing crisis” within Ireland’s healthcare sector.
INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said the union had “considered the results of November’s ballot extremely carefully” and had allowed “plenty of time for the HSE to engage with trade unions.” However, she noted that “despite many attempts for meaningful and inclusive consultation, the situation has not improved.”
Ní Sheaghdha criticized the current recruitment process, stating that “every single post to be filled must be put through a torturous and restrictive recruitment control process with multiple steps,” which can result in “recruitment decisions that take an unsafe length of time of up to six months.”
According to The Journal, the industrial action is scheduled to commence on Monday, March 31, following the mandatory three-week notice period.
“Our members can no longer tolerate these unsafe working conditions,” Ní Sheaghdha added. “We can’t tolerate the HSE as employers ignoring the need to constructively engage with trade unions.”
Section 38 hospitals, which will also be affected by the industrial action, are voluntary hospitals that receive funding from the HSE.