Strike threat puts health reform plan in jeopardy

THREATENED strike action by top health workers could scupper the most extensive health reform in the history of the State, throwing the health service into chaos.

Before the Government had even published its health service reform bill yesterday, the 15,000 senior managers and administrative staff responsible for implementing the reforms delivered a well-timed body blow to the plan by voting overwhelmingly in favour of strike action.

The workers, all IMPACT members, voted by a majority of almost 90% to endorse all-out industrial action over job locations, job security and work practice changes.

The development, which will see workers refuse to co-operate with reform plans in a matter of weeks, puts a serious question mark over Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney’s ability to implement the bill’s measures by January, as promised.

The latest setback also comes just days after the Government’s plans - which involve abolishing the health boards and replacing them with a central Health Service Executive (HSE) - were thrown into further disarray when the new HSE chief executive pulled out before even beginning the job. Professor Aidan Halligan’s unexpected withdrawal left the Government reeling.

IMPACT secretary Kevin Callinan said staff were angry at the uncertainty hanging over their careers.

“January will bring chaos over who is responsible for payroll, budgets, information technology, and other core functions because old structures will be abolished before new ones are properly in place,” he said.

“You know there’s something badly wrong when the chief executive walks away from a €400,000-a-year job, just six weeks before he’s supposed to start.”

However, Ms Harney yesterday insisted the January deadline would be met. “I am determined and the Government is determined the momentum will not be lost,” she said.

Ms Harney said she was still hopeful strike action could be averted. “We have social partnership in the country and that means we resolve challenges, issues and difficulties through a process of dialogue rather than through the traditional industrial action route,” she said.

Interim HSE chairman Kevin Kelly, who is expected to be appointed chief executive today, said January’s transition would be “very safe” and he could see no justification for a strike.

But opposition parties last night called on the Government to defer the HSE start date.

Fine Gael health spokesman Dr Liam Twomey said: “We must make sure there is nothing rushed through Dáil Éireann just for the sake of meeting the January 1 deadline.”

Labour health spokeswoman Liz McManus said: “The Minister for Health should now consider deferring the date ... until a new CEO for the HSE is found, until industrial relations difficulties have been ironed out, and until the new health bill is subjected to an appropriate level of parliamentary debate and scrutiny.”