Staff at four local hospitals to be included in national strike ballot
SIPTU have this morning announced that members working as support staff in at least 40 hospitals across the country will begin a ballot for strike action on Monday, 23rd January, in a dispute resulting from breaches of the national public service agreements and their exclusion from concessions provided to other emergency department staff.
Support staff at four local hospitals, Tallaght, St James’, Crumlin Children’s Hospital and the Coombe are among those to be balloted.
SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said: “It is deeply regrettable that our members in these hospitals feel compelled to take this action.
“The hospitals to be balloted have been selected due to our members’ belief that the issues in dispute are particularly acute in these facilities.
“It is expected that additional hospitals will be added to this initial list of facilities to be balloted.
“The failure of the HSE and Department of Health to resolve a number of issues has led to a situation where our members have been forced to contemplate strike action.
“These issues include a failure by management to adhere to the fully binding provisions of the Lansdowne Road Agreement and Haddington Road Agreement.
“The most crucial elements that have not been adhered to include the reintroduce of a job evaluation scheme, to pay interns or apply incremental credit and double time payments.
“The other central issue in this dispute involves the granting of concessions by the HSE and the Department of Health to nurses working in emergency departments which have not been extended to other workers.”
SIPTU releases initial list of hospitals to be included in national strike ballot -> https://t.co/xFwl27tcBW pic.twitter.com/2wzingbuDP
— SIPTU Health (@siptuhealth) January 8, 2017
He added: “The balloting process will commence on the 23rd January with the result scheduled to be announced on Monday, 13th February.
“This means there is still ample time for the HSE and Department of Health to address all the outstanding issues of concern for our members, something they have failed to do over the preceding 15 months.
“SIPTU has directly communicated our concerns to the Minister for Health, Simon Harris. In response the Minister has called for dialogue to resolve the outstanding problems but this has not led to any genuine action by either the HSE or Department of Health.
“In the result of strike action our members will do everything in their power to ensure that the disruption for the public is minimalised.”
The initial list of hospitals where SIPTU support staff members will be balloted:
Connolly Hospital, Dublin
Central Mental Hospital, Dublin
Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin
Coombe Women’s and Infants University Hospital, Dublin
National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dublin
Royal Hospital, Donnybrook, Dublin
Incorporated Orthopaedic Hospital of Ireland, Dublin
Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dublin
Central Remedial Clinic, Dublin
Killarney Community Hospital, Kerry
Tallaght Hospital, Dublin
Beaumont Hospital, Dublin
James’ Hospital, Dublin
Mater Hospital, Dublin
St. Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin
Cavan General Hospital, Cavan
Mullingar General Hospital, Westmeath
Portlaoise General Hospital, Laois
Dublin Dental Hospital, Dublin
Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services, Dublin
St. Ita’s Hospital Portrane, Dublin
South Tipperary General Hospital, Tipperary
St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny
Wexford General Hospital, Wexford
Cork University Hospital, Cork
Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork
Bantry General Hospital, Kerry
Mercy University Hospital, Cork
University Hospital Kerry
Letterkenny University Hospital, Donegal
Sligo University Hospital, Silgo
University Hospital Limerick
University College Hospital Galway
Merlin Park Hospital, Galway
Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, Offaly
Naas General Hospital, Kildare
St. Columcille’s Hospital, Loughlinstown, Dublin
Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, Meath
Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda, Louth
Louth County Hospital, Dundalk, Louth
TAGS news
