SIPTU to ballot for strike over cutbacks in western hospitals

The country's largest union is to ballot for strike action over a HSE plan to cut hundreds of temporary contract jobs.

The HSE said it had to take immediate action to slash costs in the West.

Plans for the SIPTU ballot were revealed as the HSE's outgoing CEO Brendan Drumm yesterday announced that most cutbacks in the health service will come from hospitals, particularly in the Galway/Roscommon area.

Senior Health Organiser with SIPTU Paul Bell said a lack of communication between the HSE and unions about what the issues are in the hospitals has created a great deal of anxiety.