Dear members,

This morning Fórsa is serving notice of industrial action to the HSE and Section 38 hospitals. In compliance with industrial relations procedures the notice period is of three weeks. The industrial action will begin on Monday 31st March.

Members are instructed to begin a work-to rule action from their normal working time on Monday 31st March. You should strictly comply with your contract and not cover the work of any vacant post.  

This instruction applies to Fórsa members working in all grades in the HSE and Section 38 hospitals. 

The full union instruction is available here. 

The INMO are also serving notice today. Members should be aware that Joint Organising Committees bringing together Fórsa reps and INMO reps have been created for each health region. 

Further phased action, including work stoppages, will be considered should there be a requirement to escalate the dispute.  

The HSE have told us time and time again that there have never been more people working in the health service, but Ireland’s population is growing and ageing.

Agency workers are filling the gaps left by a Pay and Numbers strategy that doesn’t take the needs of health service workers and patients into account. We must have realistic workforce planning for the health service that puts the right resources in the right places. We need more directly employed staff, rather than increased spending on agencies and private consultants.

The HSE has entered a process of chaotic downsizing, with arbitrary decisions being made regarding the non-filling of critical frontline positions. This must stop.

You voted for industrial action. We will put the full force of our collective strength into this action to show the HSE what happens when our members stop covering up the cracks in the HSE’s staffing strategy.
 

If you have any queries, please contact your branch executive in the first instance. A detailed FAQ will be circulated to members shortly.

Yours in solidarity,

Ashley Connolly           Linda Kelly                               
Head of Division           National Secretary

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