Late on Wednesday 4th October the HSE announced it was renewing the imposition of a moratorium on recruitment, in a memorandum on the filling of new, and replacement, clerical, admin and managerial posts, despite ongoing talks on a framework agreement. An FAQ on the dispute is available here.

As a result, Fórsa has lifted its suspension of industrial action and instructed members to commence a work to rule industrial action today Friday 6^th October. In its written response to the HSE, Fórsa described as “unacceptable” the targeting of clerical, admin and managerial grades in the renewed moratorium, and that this was taking place in the context of ongoing talks between the parties under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

Fórsa’s head of Health and Welfare, Ashley Connolly, issued a communication to members yesterday (Thursday 5^th October), to say the publication of the HSE’s memorandum had left the union no option but to lift the suspension of industrial action with immediate effect.

Ashley said the union had written to members last week to provide an update of progress on the development of a framework agreement: “Regretfully, the HSE have chosen to abandon these discussions and walk away from this process that remained under the auspices of the WRC. Such an approach shows a disdain for the national industrial relations process.

“It’s important to stress that our members are not the cause of the HSE budget overrun. It’s the continued used of agency workers and private external consultants at a cost of hundreds of millions of euro that must be addressed.

“Targeting clerical, admin and managerial grades for a recruitment moratorium is unjust and will negatively impact on the provision of clinical services. They are an integral part in the delivery of vital services, and we must stand together to show the employer that Fórsa members will not be scapegoated,” she said.

During the talks at the WRC the HSE had provided a commitment to fill all vacancies in the affected grades from 1^st September. Consequently, Fórsa had suspended the commencement of industrial action (to 30^th September) to facilitate further engagement on a specific framework agreement.

Ashley said there had been three engagements throughout September, the most recent had taken place last week on Thursday 28th September, at which the union agreed a further temporary suspension to 1st November.

The publication of the HSE memorandum yesterday prompted an immediate response from Fórsa. Ashley added: “The unilateral actions of the HSE has irrevocably broken all trust between the parties and demonstrate an unwarranted and unfair disdain for the national industrial relations process. Such an approach will simply not be tolerated by our members. In circumstances where the HSE has walked away from the dispute resolution process, the deferral of industrial action is no longer tenable,” she said.

As of normal start time on Friday 6th October, members are 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

Ashley advised the HSE that, should the union’s Dispute Committee decide to escalate the industrial action, Fórsa would provide a maximum of seven days’ notice to the employer. She added that, in accordance with the union’s obligations under the dispute resolutions procedure, Fórsa will remain available to discuss contingency plans.