HSE doctors vote for strike action as health unions escalate pay dispute

The Irish Medical Organisation ballot found that 94% of doctors voted in favour of action up to and including a strike.

Doctors working for the HSE, including those in hospitals and the community, have voted in favour of industrial action in line with other health unions.

The Irish Medical Organisation ballot found that 94% of doctors voted in favour of action up to and including a strike.

This includes consultants and non-consultant hospital doctors, as well as public and community health doctors, the IMO said on Tuesday.

The union said this indicates “overwhelming support” among doctors. The move does not include GPs as they are not HSE staff.

The IMO said the move is “a response to Government inaction on a new public sector pay deal and failure to conclude local bargaining arrangements due under the last agreement”.

It described the need for this action as “deeply regrettable”, but linked it to a failure to engage around a new public service agreement. The last agreement expired in July.

Action to begin in October

The union committees will meet on Tuesday to decide what form of action will be taken, with three weeks’ notice to be given to the HSE. Action will start from October 14.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has also said more than 99% of its members voted in favour of industrial action, up to and including strike action.

On Tuesday, it warned of severe overcrowding in hospitals affecting patients and members at work.

“The INMO is extremely concerned about the safety of our members and the patients they are trying their best to provide safe and timely care to,” general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said.

Over 692 patients were without a bed in Irish hospitals on Tuesday, the INMO’s count showed.

The union called on hospitals to take urgent action and deploy major incident protocols.

Other health unions

Earlier this month, Fórsa, the country's largest public service trade union, said it served formal notice of industrial action commencing on September 30.

This applies to employers such as the HSE, Tusla and organisations funded under Section 38 agreements.

Members of the SIPTU health division will also take industrial action on September 30 at 30 hospitals.

This is also part of the campaign calling on the Government to commence negotiations on a new public service pay agreement.

A vote was held in favour of the move, with ballots counted at Liberty Hall in Dublin, as well as in Cork and Galway.