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HEALTH AND SOCIAL care professionals in eight sectors are to go on strike next month following a ballot by their union, Fórsa.
HSE and section 38 workers in dietetics, orthotics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, social work and social care work are to strike on 11 September.
The strike is a response to the lack of implementation of a career pathway review and “no meaningful discussions” on clinical specialisms, advanced practise and management roles, according to Fórsa.
The union ballot for industrial action was supported by 93.5% of affected members.
Fórsa national secretary Linda Kelly said in a statement: “Our members have engaged in good faith discussions with their employer since 2018 to create meaningful career pathways within the named professions. It is clear from this ballot result that members believe the employer’s approach to these discussions fall far short of what is required.
“Health and social care professionals are a critical clinical staff group within the health service and central to the success of Sláintecare. Investment in career progression and promotional opportunities for our members is a necessity if the ambitious change programme set out by the HSE and government is to be realised.”
Fórsa said the strike is likely to include a complete withdrawal of co-operation with third-level student placements and education as well as withdrawal of engagement across the breadth of change programmes currently being progressed in all care areas within the HSE.
“Our members are committed, dedicated clinicians who simply want to be recognised for the vital role they have within the Irish health service.
“Given the growing level of vacancies within the HSCP cohort, the employer’s position is quite frankly bizarre,” Kelly said.
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The blame game always ends up with finger pointing at the HSE which is an administration funded to the tune of 20bn euro and yet there is seemingly no end to the myriad of staffing problems right across the sector / who is brave enough in politics to overhaul the entire management system , it’s clearly broke , it’s clearly not fit for purpose , and we keep increasing management 100k roles for the administration to be tied up in knots – imo all the health unions need to unify and force a complete overhaul of health management / the same old stand off strike threats for whack a mole strategy time has passed . Break up and rebuild the health administration for 21st century
@Dave Hammond: Who knows how its processed but yea, something needs doing, it’s quite obvious tho that our pen pushers and spinners are not interested in doing it, so it’ll never happen, Irish people love standing in the way, of other Irish people. We’re too difficult to achieve it. Just see the comments on any given day in this place.
@Thesaltyurchin: “Irish people love standing in the way, of other Irish people”. Correct. There is a percentage of Irish people who are pure and total con artists. They have no morals. Make as much dishonest money as possible and block all levels of progress that might hinder their ability to draw down massive salaries for doing nothing.
When there is no accountability in the system, it means it won’t change unfortunately.
The greed on this little island is unsurpassed anywhere else in the world. Pure greed
@The ghost of Ireland’s past: I thought you favoured the free market ‘there can be only one’ battleground that administers the substance for these addicts? this is the way
@The ghost of Ireland’s past: Definitely more greed in the USA where the Illuminati have engineered a disaster in Hawaii to crash the property market there and generate billions of dollars in reconstruction.
Privatise the lot, those who deserve “career progression’ will get it, the other 95% will be found out. The HSE, like any other organisation is only as good as the people who make up its parts. The obvious question is WTF are these people doing? No accountability, no morals, no organisation. Health service in Ireland is a multi billion Euro shambles beyond belief…
@If you’re: are you suggesting that those taking industrial action are not accountable? I hope not.
@If you’re: A good dose of this would go a long way, currently progression is ‘administered’ by people who have never met or worked with you and is based on an easily manipulated application form. Private sector it’s obvious, public sector smoke and mirrors, they have to try for parity which really overshadows the truth. But yea, wouldn’t really be in favour of a system where people die in the streets rather than call for help.
@If you’re: Yeah, privatise everything. The more we ape the US, the better.
I see here you have 25 years experience? Any of those in the public sector? no? Bottom of the scale please
This strike action appears to be a complete con-job.
Looking at the pay scales for social workers, for example, there seem to be various grades and pay scales for each. What more do they want?
This seems to be just an attempt by Forsa to get more pay for their members outside the standard public service wage agreement process.
The grievances within the section 39 sector are mounting up , expect similar action in the run up to Christmas?
Here we go again! Another Union looking for more money before doing anything constructive to improve their working conditions and their clientele welfare. These people are the majority of their workforce, the ‘custodians’ of their profession, ( not that you would think it, given the years of decay )
When do we ever see a union striking for the good of its clientele. Just look at the state of Social Welfare’ services etc, at the moment! because passing the buck is their favourite game. Is the health of patients not more important than your career path.
Some might say that it is the fault of management and it is, and not the job of the Unions/ Rep bodies to sort out the problem. But given the incompetence management , why keep asking them to solve your problems.
As the custodians of their professions, the unions have to be more assertive in their actions. E.G. If the problem is say understaffing, take whatever action it requires, even long term, union by union to get the policies implemented and sort the problem. If management refuse to cooperate, then prolong the strike, until they do! Instead of digging deeper holes for yourselves and not better career paths for all of us
Believe it when I see it . great for threatening it, never actually do it.
have your say