Members working in the HSE, as well as in Section 38 hospitals and organisations, have been advised by Fórsa not to take on the duties of vacant posts, as the use of external agencies for management and administrative cover is reduced.
Head of the health and welfare division Ashley Connolly said that the union had received reports that the HSE would move to reduce its reliance on agency workers starting this week.
She said: “We are advising members that they should not agree to take on additional work relating to this unilateral move by the HSE. There is a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) agreement in place which clearly states that the HSE will adhere to the principle of One Person, One Job.”
She continued: “Our position is clear, members should not carry out the role or functions of a vacant post, or of a position previously covered by an agency colleague whose contract has ended, unless this has been agreed with the union.”
National secretary Ryan McKinney said: “We don’t support the use of agency workers in the HSE and have continually advocated for an increase in direct hiring; however, this move will exacerbate the pressure on services, and on the workers delivering them, which is a message we are hearing from Fórsa members daily."
The union has written to the HSE CEO Anne O’Connor and to each Regional Executive Officer, setting out its position and concerns.
Ryan went on to say that if members are asked to take on extra work that arises from the withdrawal of an agency worker they should write to their manager using the email template created by Fórsa and alert their workplace representative.
Download the email template here.
Members are also encouraged to download and print awareness raising posters to make sure their colleagues know that there is a WRC agreement in place that protects them.
You can download the poster in colour here and in black and white here.
Ashley concluded by saying that health service workers should not be expected to pay the price for the employers’ decision to reduce their reliance on agency workers.
She said: “Workers cannot be expected to cover over the cracks created by under-resourcing and outsourcing. Staff shortages are having a significant impact, and services are being maintained only through the goodwill of members. That is not a sustainable or reasonable way to operate a health service in the 21st century.”
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