Planned industrial action by Fórsa members working as perfusionists this week was paused following engagement with the HSE, and in anticipation of the dispute being addressed in forthcoming national pay talks. 

The dispute, which centres on the HSE’s failure to implement a Labour Court recommendation, led to strike action at five hospital sites on Tuesday 9th June. Further action scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday this week was suspended. 

The decision follows contact from the HSE late last week, confirming that the Labour Court recommendation will be included on the agenda for discussions on a successor public service pay agreement, on the basis that industrial action is paused. 

After detailed discussions with workplace representatives and Fórsa’s disputes committee, the union agreed to suspend action to allow space for the issue to be progressed through the national talks process. 

The Labour Court recommendation found that the HSE had unilaterally breached a long-standing agreement linking perfusionist pay with that of medical scientists and recommended that the appropriate pay scale be applied with retrospective effect to 1st January 2024. 

Fórsa has made clear that members expect the recommendation to be fully implemented and will be monitoring developments closely as discussions progress. 

Watch members talk about why they took strike action here.

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