Health workers vote for work-to-rule

Almost 30,000 health workers have voted for a work-to-rule and possible strike action over a recruitment freeze, it was revealed today.

The IMPACT trade union said there was overwhelming support for the action in a national ballot – the largest of its kind ever undertaken by the union.

Some 28,000 workers have vowed to refuse to co-operate with management in the Health Service Executive, advisors and the agency’s transformation programme from May 21.

They will also block non-emergency overtime, out-of-hours work and refuse to cover posts affected by the recruitment freeze.

IMPACT members include health professionals and therapists, social workers, administrative and managerial staff and a small number of nurses.

Details of the industrial action have been sent in a letter to the HSE today.

It warns that staff will refuse to carry out tasks, functions or responsibilities linked to posts not filled following the recruitment freeze.

They will stick strictly to rules and procedures governing their post and operate only agreed reporting relationships.

Overtime or out-of-hours work has been banned, except in emergencies.

IMAPCT members will not engage with HSE advisors or co-operate with the transformation programme.

Staff will not take part in partnership activities or attend meetings of the Health Service National Partnership Forum, partnership committees and other joint working groups.

The union also plans other forms of action, including work stoppages in particular services or certain parts of the country.

IMPACT claimed the HSE had ignored or refused to implement agreements, undermining a wide range of working conditions, including cover for absences, promotions, acting up and career break returns.

“Unless the HSE changes its approach, staff will have no guarantee against further imposed changes in their terms and conditions of employment,” said Mr Callinan.

Kevin Callinan, IMPACT national secretary, said the action would target management and seriously affect HSE bureaucracy.

But he said members would strive to ensure that patients did not suffer unnecessarily.

“The staffing freeze is having a devastating effect on services and staff,” he said.

“The effect of the cuts has so far varied, depending on where vacancies have arisen, but it’s only a matter of time before all services and staff are affected.”

IMPACT said staff had been angered at shortcomings in healthcare and the dissatisfaction with the HSE’s recruitment embargo had come to a head.

The freeze was imposed in January, allowing only critical frontline vacancies, which had already opened, to be filled when a separate, unrelated position became vacant.

“As well as curtailing existing services, the freeze has delayed promised improvements in areas like primary care, mental health services and care for older people,” said Mr Callinan.

“Our members find this intolerable, and experience tells us that more cuts in services and staffing are likely unless we take a stand.”