Fórsa is to ballot clerical and administrative management grades working throughout the HSE and Section 38 organisations in response to an ongoing dispute over recruitment pauses in the sector, and the employer’s failure to adhere to collective agreements on the filling of promotional positions.

The decision was backed by a unanimous decision of the Health and Welfare Divisional Executive Committee (DEC) earlier this month.

The DEC is recommending that members vote yes to commence industrial action, up to and including strike action in an electronic ballot, due to commence on Monday 3rd July.

Head of the Health and Welfare Division Ashley Connolly said the decision to ballot for industrial action was due to the ‘creeping’ privatisation of health services, which is undermining and diluting some of the HSE’s own services.

“We will not tolerate the privatisation of our members core work. We will not allow recruitment agencies to come in and take the work of our members, work that should go to direct employees. We will take whatever steps are necessary to protect our members core work,” she said.

Earlier this year Fórsa wrote to the HSE expressing concern that the HSE and Section 38 employers persistently ignored collective agreements and were choosing to fill positions via agency workers or through procured services.

“This was particularly obvious when we repeatedly observed positions from Grade V to Grave VII filled via external competitions or agency workers. Despite engagement with HSE senior management we continued to see a blatant disregard for our agreements across the country,” said Ashley.

In addition to this, the HSE has issued a recruitment pause across the system on the filling of all Grade VII positions and above, as a result of projected budget overruns.

Ashley said that senior management have taken the “completely unacceptable” decision to only target managerial and administration grades to carry this financial burden.

“This is against the backdrop of the HSE and Section 38 employers continuing to pay millions of euros on external private consultants to offer advice. Funds that would be best served investing in their own employees.

“No other grade or category across the HSE or Section 38 organisations are subject to these harsh measures, which are reminiscent of the recruitment moratorium of the austerity years. We have been left with no choice but to escalate this trade dispute,” she said.

Fórsa has appealed to members to ensure their contact details are up-to-date to guarantee their voice is heard. Health workers have already received an email from the union asking members for their up-to-date contact information. If you have not yet received this email, Fórsa is asking members to email hwballot2023@forsa.ie with their employer, personal email and contact number.

In advance of the ballot, Fórsa is encouraging members to read this FAQ document.