Fórsa members working in HSE and Section 38 hospitals have voted to approve the proposals to address the non-filling and delayed filling of vacant and suppressed health posts.
Fórsa and other unions had served notice of industrial action to the HSE back in March, in an escalation in the dispute over the effect of the HSE’s ‘Pay and Numbers’ strategy, and the failure of the health body to engage with employee representatives.
The HSE’s ‘Pay and Numbers’ strategy imposed a fixed employment ceiling across all health services, in addition to suppressing all posts that were vacant on the 31st December 2023.
Fórsa’s head of Health and Welfare Ashley Connolly said the union has called on the HSE to ensure the terms of the WRC agreement are fully implemented: “This ballot result should mark a reset of how the parties engage – in line with the spirit of the agreement – to ensure we do not find ourselves back in dispute again,” she said.
Linda Kelly, Fórsa national secretary, added: “This agreement will be subject to a review in six months’ time. Until then we will be closely monitoring its progress, and we will be seeking full adherence to the commitments set out in the WRC proposals,” she said.
Join a union that wins. Join Fórsa.