Industrial action by Fórsa’s members in clerical and administrative roles in the HSE escalated last Friday, 27th of October.

Fórsa members have been engaged in a sustained action of non-cooperation since the 6th of October, in response to the HSE’s unilateral imposition of a moratorium on recruitment last month.

This week Fórsa and the HSE attended a meeting at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) on Tuesday 31st of October. At the meeting both parties presented their positions, the conciliation officer asked the parties to adjourn and reflect, ahead of a next meeting on Wednesday 8th of November.

Ashley Connolly, head of Fórsa’s Health & Welfare division commented: “Despite meeting at the WRC this week there has been no progress made to date in this dispute. Members are advised to continue their industrial action. When our members stand firm together it has an impact and sends a strong message.”

Ashley continued “The current recruitment ban has had a direct effect on several vacated posts that were due to be refilled under the current service plan. Suppressing these posts is effectively a job cut, not a cap on further recruitment.”

The escalated action means that Fórsa members are instructed to:

• Decline, unless normally rostered, to work over weekends and / or bank holidays
• Not use their work allocated mobile phone outside of their normal working hours unless it is for emergency purposes
• Not take direction or report to an agency worker from Grade V or above
• Not work outside their agreed contract working hours unless in receipt of agreed overtime rates (this does not include flexi time).
• Members should not engage in communications with all non-HSE personnel in the CTTO and CISO Offices
• Not cooperate with HealthIrl Computer Domain Migration Project and /or other reform projects.

The full instruction to members is available here, and a detailed FAQ on the dispute is available here.

Should there be no further progress phased further escalation of the industrial action will commence in the week of 13th November. Members in various locations will participate in organised rolling lunchtime protests on separate dates from 27th November.

There’s never been a better time to join a union, and it’s never been easier. Join Fórsa today.