Fórsa members working in the Louth Hospital Group commenced their campaign of industrial action last Tuesday (13^th June) across three sites, including Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, the Cottage Hospital in Drogheda, and Louth County Hospital in Dundalk.

The action follows a ballot, concluded last March, in an ongoing dispute about staff shortages, and hospital management’s failure to recruit urgently needed staff.

Fórsa members at the group of hospitals, comprising of health and social care professionals (‘HSCPs’), and clerical and administrative grades, backed the action by a margin of 98.4%, securing a mandate to engage in industrial action, up to and including strike action.

Fórsa’s Assistant General Secretary, Lynn Coffey said that union had been left with no other option but to escalate the dispute.

“Strike action is a last resort, our members are working in unsafe environments as a direct consequence of management inaction. In an attempt to find a solution, this action was deferred twice. Despite our best efforts the failure to fill critical administrative positions across the hospital sites has left us with no option to but commence our work to rule,” she said.

Lynn said Fórsa members have worked in impossible circumstances to meet the demands of the service. 

“The whole system is stretched far too thin. Fórsa members have continued to work within teams and departments experiencing staff shortages, working through breaks, covering vacant posts, and extending their working hours in order to meet the demands of service.

“Understaffing increases the health, safety and welfare risks in the workplace. In a healthcare environment, that risk extends to patients. Despite this, management has failed to put in any real measures to protect staff or patients,” she said.

With rolling industrial action intended over the coming weeks, Lynn urged management to engage with the union to find a resolution to this dispute.

“Fórsa representatives remain available for meaningful and solution-focused engagement, as has always been our position,” she said.

Fórsa will write to members shortly to inform members of the next steps.

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