Twenty-five Fórsa members working as perfusionists across five hospitals are due to begin a series of work stoppages next Tuesday (9th June) in a dispute over pay and the HSE’s refusal to implement a Labour Court recommendation. 

Members are asked to send messages of solidarity to them as they take on the largest employer in the State. You can leave a message of solidarity here.

Perfusionists are highly skilled healthcare professionals who support the body’s vital functions during complex surgical procedures. Since 1960, an established and agreed pay linkage has existed between perfusionists and medical scientists, which the HSE unilaterally broke in 2024.   

The decision to take industrial action was approved by a unanimous ballot of members.  

National secretary Linda Kelly said: “It is simply unacceptable that the HSE would break this pay relationship in the first instance, and then that they would disregard a Labour Court recommendation is even more shocking.”   

In January,  the Labour Court recommended that perfusionists should have their long-standing pay link restored to the revised pay scale. However, the HSE has claimed that implementing the recommendation would be cost-increasing and that the matter should therefore be dealt with through local bargaining. This has been vehemently disputed by Fórsa. 

All members working as perfusionists in the Mater Hospital, St. James’s Hospital, Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) Crumlin, Galway University Hospital and Cork University Hospital will take industrial action in the form of a series of one-day strikes.  

The first day of work stoppage will take place on Tuesday 9th June. This will be followed by two days of work stoppage on Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th June.   

Linda urged members across the union to stand in solidarity with their union colleagues next Tuesday. She said: “Members will be picketing outside hospitals on Tuesday and would appreciate all support they can get on the pickets. If you can’t make it to a picket, send a solidarity message and we’ll make sure perfusionists know their union has their back.” 

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