Fórsa has sought a meeting with HSE chief Bernard Gloster, following the breakdown of talks at the WRC (Workplace Relations Commission) on Wednesday. 

The WRC talks had been aimed at finding a solution which would allow the union and HSE management to address the increasing number of vacancies within the HSE, and issues arising from the HSE’s unilateral imposition of a moratorium on recruitment. 

Fórsa members have been engaged in a sustained industrial action of non-cooperation since 6th October, and the union continues to plan for telephone bans and lunchtime protests early next month. Ahead of a final decision by the union to further escalate its action, Fórsa’s head of Health and Welfare Ashley Connolly contacted Bernard Gloster, seeking a direct meeting with the HSE chief executive.

Ashley said the union had proposed, at an earlier meeting, that management continue to replace previously sanctioned posts included in the HSE’s service plan for 2023, but that this was rejected by the HSE. 

Fórsa attended a third meeting this week, at the WRC, with the HSE. Ashley said the hearing lasted less than an hour: “The process concluded without agreement, and there's no basis to continue the engagement.  

“HSE management had requested that Fórsa lift its ongoing industrial action, on the basis that there are only five weeks left in the year.  We rejected that request, and the industrial action - including our work-to-rule - will continue,” she said.

Ashley also challenged the claim, made last month by Gloster, that the recruitment of additional staff is being ‘capped, not cut.’ Gloster made the comment during his appearance at the Oireachtas health committee on 24th October. 

Ashley commented: “The current recruitment ban has had a direct effect on several vacated posts that were due to be refilled under the current service plan. Suppressing these posts is effectively a job cut, not a cap on further recruitment.”

She also questioned the CEO’s assertion that ‘existing levels of service provision will continue’ against the backdrop of further restrictions which were put in place late last week.  

Since 6th October, we have issued two instructions Fórsa members in clerical and admin grades in the HSE and Section 38 organisations have been instructed:        

• Not to undertake tasks, functions or responsibilities associated with any vacant post
• Not to carry out the duties of a higher grade and strictly adhere to the rules and procedures governing their post
• To boycott all engagement in relation to HSE Health Regions also known as Regional Health Areas (RHAs)
• Not to engage or attend any working groups, planning, restructuring, consultation, scoping, discussion meetings / forums in relation to all change programs underway across the HSE and / or Section 38s. (e.g., RHAs, HSPA, NiSRP)
• Not to engage or participate in any meetings in relation to the further roll out of the IFMS change program including the roll-out of implementation group 2, 3, 4 and 5
• Not to return national information / data returns e.g., KPIs, Accident & Emergency statistics, delayed discharges, monthly activities etc. (including non-engagement in online forums and / or teleconference in relation to same)
• Not to engage with Finance and HR Information processes (including non-engagement in online forums and / or teleconference in relation to same)
• Not to cooperate with regulatory bodies e.g., HIQA
• Withdrawal from all national committees
• Not to engage with, meet, report to, or provide any information to external private consultants or HSE advisors
• Not to participate or engage with performance achievement / management
• Not to engage with all political forums and / or processes (PQs etc)
• Not to engage with any proposals in relation to the extended working week

The action escalated from Friday 27th October 2023. Since then, members have been advised to:

• Decline, unless normally rostered, to work over weekends and / or bank holidays
• Not use their work allocated mobile phone outside of their normal working hours unless it is for emergency purposes
• Not take direction or report to an agency worker from Grade V or above
• Not work outside their agreed contract working hours unless in receipt of agreed overtime rates (this does not include flexi time).
• Not engage in communications with all non-HSE personnel in the CTTO and CISO Offices
• Not cooperate with HealthIrl Computer Domain Migration Project and /or other reform projects.

Should members have any questions about the industrial action they should contact their local branch, consult the FAQ, or email healthandwelfareinfo@forsa.ie