Earlier this week, on Monday 14th April, a ballot of members working in the HSE, and section 38 voluntary hospitals opened.

Members are being asked to vote on the terms of proposals reached at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) on Sunday 30th March. The online ballot will run until Tuesday 29th April. 

The health and welfare divisional executive committee (DEC), made up of elected representatives of members, have recommended a ‘yes’ vote to members.

Last week hundreds of members attended online and in-person information meetings to discuss the details of the proposals.

Before voting began, an explanatory document was issued to all members, addressing issues raised by members. In an accompanying email national secretaries Ashley Connolly and Linda Kelly took the opportunity to clarify three issues that were raised.

In relation to Health and Social Care Professions (HSCP) cross cover, Linda underlined that there is no agreement, either nationally or regionally, to provide cross-cover. She said: “The new proposals are unrelated to cross-cover and must not be used to introduce such changes. The previous guidance provided to all HSCPs remains in effect.”

The position on covering vacant positions for clerical admin workers is outlined in the previous HSE Memo regarding the clerical admin post and has not changed. You can read it here. 

Concern was expressed by some members on temporary contracts that they may be displaced or disadvantaged if agency workers, who have held a post for more than one year, are converted to directly employed status. 

Ashley clarified that this is not the intention. She said: “If agency workers are moved to directly employed status, the same rules regarding permanency will apply to them as to those currently on temporary contracts.”

Ashley and Linda urged members to cast their vote and thanked them for their engagement to date, saying “Your commitment to the patients you serve, and the health service you work in has brought us to this point. These proposals, while not perfect, are a solid starting point. Together, we have won commitments that will increase staffing levels where it is most desperately needed and reduce agency workers by creating more directly hired roles.”

You can read the WRC proposals here, and the explanatory document here. Read our previous article on how the agreement was reached here.

If you have further questions regarding the proposals, contact your local branch, or email healthandwelfareinfo@forsa.ie.

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