IMO threatens boycott over new work contract

THE Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) will ask members to boycott new consultant posts — due to be advertised next week — unless agreement is reached on a new work contract.

Speaking yesterday at the IMO AGM, industrial relations director, Fintan Hourihan, said a directive would be issued to members asking junior doctors not to apply for the new posts.

“All said, if the Government continues with its plan to recruit additional consultants without agreement on a contract, we would see that as highly provocative,” he said.

The Government has said it will press ahead next week with plans to recruit 350 consultants under the new contract terms with or without a resolution to contract negotiations.

Health Minister Mary Harney has already been forced to push the deadline for conclusion of the talks from March 27 to April 17 when no agreement was reached by the earlier date.

Yesterday, Mr Hourihan said he was “absolutely certain” the second deadline would also be missed.

He said he understood 50 posts would be advertised by the Health Service Executive (HSE) next Tuesday. He said senior HSE officials had been canvassing hospitals to determine which specialities needed additional consultants.

Mr Hourihan said while there had been progress on a wide range of issues in the contract talks, chaired by Mark Connaughtan, SC, the IMO had “rejected in principle” the notion of a five-in-seven day roster, to include weekends. He said it was not feasible with the number of consultants in the system.

Both the IMO and the Irish Hospital Consultants’ Association (IHCA) have said they will not take part in interview panels to interview applicants for the posts until a new contract is agreed. Mr Hourihan said the HSE had asked at least three medical colleges, including the Royal College of Surgeons, to take part in interviews, but none had agreed to do so.

Under the new contract, consultants who commit themselves to working exclusively in the public system can earn up to €250,000 and a 20% performance-related bonus. Those who opt for 20% private practice can earn up to €185,000. The salary in the public system is €186,000.

The IHCA has said the new offer would mean working longer hours for less — a 39-hour week would replace the existing 33-hour week. It will ask members to take part in a campaign of action to thwart Government attempts to recruit new consultants at an extraordinary general meeting on April 22.

A spokesperson for Ms Harney has she does not intend to again extend the deadline for contract talks and that the recruitment of new consultants is set to go ahead next week.