Fórsa members working as perfusionists will take industrial action in June in a dispute over pay and the HSE’s refusal to implement a Labour Court recommendation.  

National secretary Linda Kelly said: “We have now officially served notice on the HSE and relevant Section 38 employers of the commencement of industrial action. The ballot of members was unanimous.” 
 
“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.” 

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.  

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.  

Members working as perfusionists in the Mater Hospital, St. James’s Hospital, Children’s Health Ireland (CHI), 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.  

The escalation of action reflects the HSE’s continued failure to honour the Labour Court recommendation. 

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