Government sows confusion on Covid recognition
by Mehak Dugal
 
Fórsa’s head of health, Éamonn Donnelly, called on the Government to give the HSE scope to reach agreements that would benefit staff without significant cost.
Fórsa’s head of health, Éamonn Donnelly, called on the Government to give the HSE scope to reach agreements that would benefit staff without significant cost.

Fórsa and other health unions have called for immediate engagement with the HSE following a Labour Court recommendation, which called on health employers to continue talks on recognition for the efforts and commitment of health staff during the pandemic.

 

The unions are seeking tangible recognition for healthcare workers’ extraordinary efforts and contribution in the fight against Covid-19.

 

In a series of media interviews over the last ten days, Fórsa’s head of health, Éamonn Donnelly, called on the Government to give the HSE scope to reach agreements that would benefit staff without significant cost.

 

The union also criticised the contradictory messaging emerging from senior Government figures on the issue. Donnelly called on them to allow health employers to present proposals through the proper channels of negotiation, as recommended by the Labour Court.

 

“Health workers’ extraordinary dedication and commitment to fight the virus should be acknowledged. And its not just frontline workers. Workers across all grades changed jobs at immediate notice to provide an emergency response in areas such as contact tracing, testing and so on.

 

“This can be done without huge cost if health service management has the flexibility to reach an agreed approach. The confusing and contradictory messages from senior Government figures is making this more – not less – difficult,” he said.

 

Health workers have faced higher risk of Covid infection, and were asked to provide critical intervention during the global health emergency, including when there was inadequate PPE and no vaccines.

 

Listen to Éamonn Donnelly’s media interviews on Newstalk, Today FM, and RTÉ.

 

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