Fórsa is urging members working in clerical and administrative and management grades to cast their vote today. Members throughout the HSE and Section 38 organisations are balloting for industrial action up to and including strike action.

The union is in dispute with the HSE and Section 38 employers (Voluntary Hospitals and Voluntary Agencies) after they unilaterally imposed a recruitment pause.  No other grade or category of staff working in these agencies are subject to a recruitment pause and all promotional positions continued to be filled for those grades. 

In addition to the recruitment pause the HSE & Section 38 employers, over the last period of time have failed to adhere to our collective agreements and we have seen an increase in agency workers and private consultants emerging.  This has seen a further erosion of our members promotional opportunities. 

The decision was backed by a unanimous decision of the Health and Welfare Divisional Executive Committee (DEC) earlier last month.

The DEC is recommending that members vote yes to commence industrial action, up to and including strike action in an electronic ballot, but members only have a few more days to vote and ensure their voice is heard.

Head of the Health and Welfare Division Ashley Connolly said the decision to ballot for industrial action was due to the ‘creeping’ privatisation of health services, which is undermining and diluting some of the HSE’s own services. She urged members to cast their vote today.

“We will not tolerate the privatisation of our members core work. We will take whatever steps are necessary to protect our members, but we need members to vote now to help us deliver on this. If you have not already voted, it’s vital that you vote today to ensure your voice is heard,” she said.

Health workers have already received an email from the union with voting information. If you have not yet received this email, Fórsa is asking members to email hwballot2023@forsa.ie with their employer, personal email and contact number.

In advance of voting Fórsa is encouraging members to read this FAQ document.

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