Following our issuing of notice of industrial action to the HSE and Section 38 voluntary hospitals, a delegation from the INMO met with the HSE yesterday to discuss contingency planning for our upcoming work-to-contract/rule, due to begin on March 31st. This is a requirement of the Dispute Resolution Framework of the health services and the subject matter is the nature of the dispute notified to the employer.
The employer sought further information on the work stoppage/working to contract and this information was set out in detail as per the notice to members issued to you on Monday.
We emphasised to the employer that we expect services to be curtailed, we expect that the volume of work would be reduced to accommodate the reduction to the volume of workers considering overtime and agency would not be available to them from March 31st.
The INMO and other unions involved in this action, including Fórsa, Connect and Unite offered to meet the HSE again this Friday, but the HSE advised that they would not be available as they want to consult with individual hospitals and regional health authorities. The next meeting on contingency matters surrounding the dispute is now set for Wednesday 19th of March.
We have separately notified the employer that we are available to engage on the substantive issues around the dispute. We have not received an invitation to meet the employer to discuss the issues at the heart of this dispute, since we issued notice of industrial action on Monday 10th March.
I want to assure members that your local INMO official is available to you if you have any questions. In addition, please be aware that strike committees are now being established in workplaces. We will be arranging regional and workplace meetings with members from next week.