Junior doctors seek 25%-40% pay rise
Trade publication Irish Medical News has reported that after contract negotiations between the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) and the HSE broke down on Friday, the doctors’ union confirmed it will take the case to arbitration. While other issues such as working times have also been discussed, it is understood the increased salary has become a major stumbling block in the discussions.
There are almost 4,800 junior doctors in Ireland who are paid salaries of between €35,534 for an intern to €58,374 for a house officer, and €69,000-€89,000 for senior registrars. The new junior doctors’ contract must be agreed before the end of the year in order to bring new working times into force.
The IMO has previously claimed the basic salary of junior doctors has been suppressed over the years due to their access to large amounts of overtime which has now been reduced, resulting in the call for a 25%-40% salary increase.
The likely Labour court case emerged after doctors’ representatives confirmed two consultants are taking an unpaid salaries case against the HSE in a move which could potentially cost the State €143 million.
The two cases are up for mention in the LRC at the end of October and, if successful, could lead to a flood of similar claims from Ireland’s 2,300-strong consultants.
Under the terms of the new consultants’ contract, signed by the HSE and medical unions in May 2008, senior doctors agreed to work increased hours and weekends. In return, they were to receive basic salaries of between €175,000 and €240,000 a year from the State, in addition to a reduced level of lucrative private patient work.
Since the agreement was made, the pay increase should have cost the Department of Health an extra €143m to what has been paid. But, while the contract has been agreed and consultants are working longer hours, due to the economic crisis large sections of the salary increases have been delayed until the end of next year at the earliest.
While the Irish Hospital Consultants’ Association (IHCA) said it would like to have the issue resolved before a LRC meeting, Ms Harney has insisted the additional payments will not be paid before a review “in September 2010”.
