20/01/2017

SIPTU To Ballot Hospital Members On Industrial Action

SIPTU member support staff at selected hospitals are to be balloted on proposed industrial action in a dispute concerning breaches of the national public service agreements and their exclusion from concessions provided to other emergency department workers.

SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said: "Our members are fully committed to winning fair and equal treatment in the workplace. The failure of the HSE and Department of Health to resolve our concerns has put our members in an intolerable and inequitable situation.

"These issues include a failure by management to adhere to the fully binding provisions of the Lansdowne Road Agreement and Haddington Road Agreement. The most crucial elements that have not been adhered to include the reintroduction of a job evaluation scheme and the application of incremental credit to interns.

"The other central issue in this dispute involves the granting of concessions by the HSE and the Department of Health to nurses working in emergency departments which have not been extended to other workers."

He added: "After 15 months of engagement with management on the issues in dispute, our members believe enough is enough and they have been left with no option but to take action if they are to achieve justice from the employer.

"The balloting process will commence on the 23rd January with the result scheduled to be announced on Monday, 13th February. This means there is still enough time for the HSE and Department of Health to address all the outstanding issues of concern for our members."

(MH/JP)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

29 April 2016
Sinn Féin Condemns Decision To Cut Mental Health Budget
A decision by the government to remove €12 million from the mental health budget has been condemned by Sinn Féin's TD, Dessie Ellis. Speaking ahead of a protest held on Thursday, Deputy Ellis said: "People suffering with mental health issues are strong, they deal with great pressures every day but they need our support to survive and recover.
04 August 2016
Siptu To Attend Meeting To Attempt To Revert Strike Action In NAS
Union representatives from Siptu are to attend a meeting with Health Service Executive (HSE) management and Department of Health officials today, 04 August, to try to avert strike action in the National Ambulance Service (NAS). Siptu Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said: "Our members have brought solutions to the table from day one.
02 September 2016
SIPTU Members At NAS Vote In Favour Of WRC Recommendation
SIPTU members at the National Ambulance Service (NAS) have voted in favour of a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) recommendation on the future development of the service. Union members voted in favour by two-to-one for the proposals to resolve a number of outstanding issues in the NAS, SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said.
14 July 2016
SIPTU Meets With HSE To Discuss Recruitment Of Mental Health Nurses
SIPTU representatives have met with the Health Service Executive (HSE) at a meeting hosted by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to discuss industrial issues preventing the recruitment and retention of mental health nurses.
04 April 2012
Investigations Continue Into Influenza Outbreak
The Public Health Department of HSE North West have deployed a team of medical doctors, nurses and surveillance scientists to the Nazareth private nursing home, Buncrana, County Donegal in order to control and manage the situation and to put all appropriate treatment and control measures in place. Six people have died within a two week period.