Fórsa and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) have now served notice of industrial action to the HSE marking an escalation in the dispute over the effect of the HSE’s ‘Pay and Numbers Strategy’ which imposed a fixed employment ceiling across all health services, in addition to suppressing all posts that were vacant on the 31st December 2023.  

The new ‘strategy’ also devolves responsibility for staffing decisions to each new Regional Executive Officer, with no oversight, or transparency in relation to staffing decisions. At no stage, were unions consulted in relation to these changes. 

The two health unions served three weeks’ notice of the action and union members in both the HSE and Section 38 voluntary hospitals have been instructed to engage in the action, commencing with a work-to-rule and other non-cooperation actions, from Monday 31st March. Other unions, including Connect and the MLSA, have also served notice of industrial action. Up to 70,000 health workers will be engaged in the action. 

In a recent communication to members, Fórsa’s head of health & welfare Ashley Connolly, said: “The HSE has consistently refused to engage with us on the Pay and Numbers strategy”.  

“The people working in the health service aren’t just numbers. Without you there is no health service. You are advocating for the resources that are desperately needed to provide the services people desperately need. It’s time to show HSE management what happens when our members stop covering up the cracks in the HSE’s staffing strategy,” she said. 

Ashley said members have continued to express frustration over the crude imposition of staff cuts since the October 2023 moratorium, and the publication of the HSE’s ‘Pay and Numbers Strategy’ document last July, which revealed the loss of thousands of previously sanctioned posts. 

She added: “Ireland’s population is growing and it is also an ageing population. These factors demand a more robust approach to health planning. An approach that doesn’t involve spending millions on management consultants, whose main advice appears to be the suppression of health posts that need to be filled.” 

Fórsa national secretary Linda Kelly added: “Our members provide a vital public service – the healthcare that people need, when they need it. The crude imposition of employment restrictions does a lot of harm, adds to patient waiting times and delays treatment. This runs in total opposition to the values our members stand for on the delivery of care,” she said. 

Linda continued: “If you work in the HSE or a Section 38 voluntary hospital it is very important that you fully understand how the instruction will impact you. 

Workplace meetings are taking place to answer any questions members have. Union officials and reps will be distributing badges and lanyards in the weeks ahead, we’re asking you to wear them to build visibility and show everyone you meet that you are taking part in this action.” 

Fórsa member Orla Carroll summed up the feeling of members going on industrial action:  

“We’re taking industrial action to save our health service. It’s about patients, not pay. We simply don’t have enough staff to provide the services our communities need.” 

“For years the HSE has been running down our health service by not filling vacancies.  They have ignored the problem by removing the vacancies we all know exist and piling more pressure onto you, the existing workforce.” 

Fórsa and the INMO have advised that other phased action, including work stoppages, will be considered should there be a requirement to escalate the dispute.   

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