The HSE had invited us to meet with them on Monday morning to discuss the substantive issues of the notified dispute. As you are aware, the issues you were balloted on were in respect of staffing and the process by which staffing levels are arrived at.
We attended the HSE’s offices at 10.30 on Monday morning, unfortunately, they did not proceed to discuss any possible resolutions to the notified dispute and the meeting was quite unsatisfactory. (Please see the attached press statement issued on behalf of all unions in dispute post this meeting).
On Monday afternoon, the third scheduled meeting on contingency planning to manage the dispute from Monday 31st of March, took place. Again, disappointingly, the HSE were not sufficiently prepared to set out the derogations that they would require or indeed services that they intend to notify closure of to ensure that they can deliver a safe service. We have set out our concerns re their lack of preparedness in this regard.
On Monday afternoon we were notified by the Workplace Relations Commission that the CEO of the HSE referred this dispute the WRC and the WRC have offered to meet the parties, this Thursday, 27th of March at 10.30 am.
Following consultation with the Officers of your Executive Council, the INMO will attend this conciliation conference in good faith and make the case in respect of your current working conditions.
We do not intend to change the notification period, therefore, the dispute as notified on the 31st of March is still planned and if talks are not successful at the WRC it will go ahead on Monday the 31st of March.
Please ensure that you are linking in with your local INMO representatives and strike committees.
We will update you immediately post WRC on Thursday with any progress or otherwise.
Please if you have changed your postal address, email address, work location, grade or mobile number, let us know by emailing inmo@inmo.ie thankyou.