Midwives threaten strike on redundancies

MIDWIVES at a large private hospital are to ballot for industrial action tomorrow in a row over redundancy.

The result of the ballot of almost 50 midwives working at the Bon Secours hospital in Cork is expected tomorrow evening.

The Irish Nurses’ Organisation (INO) declined to speculate on the outcome of the ballot last night.

However, it is expected that the midwives will withdraw from talks aimed at the introduction of a unified maternity service at Cork University Hospital’s (CUH) new €75 million maternity hospital which is due to open next March.

They are also expected to introduce a work to rule and withdraw their services from non-midwifery tasks.

The dispute stems from a decision taken in November to discontinue obstetric services at the Bon Secours Hospital from March 1, 2007.

The new maternity unit at CUH — designed to cater for about 7,000 births annually in the Cork region — will replace the existing maternity facilities at St Finbarr’s Hospital, the Erinville Hospital and the Bon Secours when it opens.

Since the decision to cease obstetric services at the Bon Secours, the Bon Secours Organisation has insisted that the closure is covered under the Transfer of Undertakings legislation.

Their interpretation of the legislation is that the midwives should either stay at the hospital, retrain and work in other areas or seek employment in CUH’s new maternity unit.

However, the INO said the entire issue should be addressed under the Redundancy Payments Act which would make a redundancy package available.

INO Industrial Relations Officer, Michael Dineen said midwives were being given no choice.

“It’s either move or nothing. Management are using the legislation to suit their own ends,” he said.

“Some of our members have spent over 30 years working in the Bon Secours and are entitled to have all issues satisfactorily resolved in relation to their current posts before they decide on their future.

Bon Secours management expressed their regret and disappointment at the INO’s decision to ballot.

“Extensive discussions were held with the HSE to ensure that the careers of staff would be protected,” a spokesperson said.

“Preservation of employment is central to this change and there will be no loss of employment or redundancy.

“Bon Secours Hospital remains available to engage with the INO to resolve this matter,” the spokesperson added.

The Bons Secours Maternity Hospital — which has had more than 100,000 deliveries since 1958 — currently assists in the birth of around 1,800 babies a year.