Drumm vows ‘direct’ action in battle with union

HSE chief executive Brendan Drumm has written to all 100,000 of its employees warning of “direct” action against staff whose industrial action is crippling its financial and service administration.

Mr Drumm also made it clear that service cuts will be in place very soon if the ongoing battle with IMPACT trade union – which saw failed talks in the Labour Relations Commission earlier this week – is not resolved immediately.

In the service-wide circular, Mr Drumm confirmed his senior team have no idea of financial spending in the HSE for the last three months due to a work to rule by IMPACT’s members who normally collate and present that information.

As his team did not therefore know whether they were on target to make the required €400 million savings this year, he said management were preparing to set aside approximately €200m from health service budgets to offset any overspend which might currently be occurring as a result of the information deficit.

“In the absence of a resolution [to the impasse between management and the union] in the very near future we will be forced to take a more direct approach to address the situation and this will affect patients, clients and staff,” he said.

“This would be an unfortunate development but it is becoming increasingly inevitable at this stage.”

Saying the position was “untenable” he also appeared to be trying to drive a wedge between IMPACT members and workers in other unions.

“I believe that many of our staff are uncomfortable in taking these actions. It is also a very difficult situation for all staff who continue to do the work they are paid to do and serve the public. The vast majority of our staff remain fully committed to helping our vulnerable clients.”

He concluded by appealing to the civic duty of staff.

“I would appeal to you to, at all times, to put the rights and needs of our patients and clients first,” he said.

IMPACT is expected to issue a response later today.