The Chief Executive of the HSE has said planned industrial action by healthcare staff is ‘regrettable’.
Fórsa and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation have served notice of industrial action to the health authority in a dispute over staff shortages.
The unions have accused the HSE of imposing a fixed employment ceiling across all health services, and of suppressing posts.
The industrial action will begin on 31 March following a three-week notice period.
It will initially take the form of a work-to-rule and other non-cooperation actions.
The unions have warned that other phased action, including work stoppages, will be considered should there be a requirement to escalate the dispute.
“INMO members voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action last November to send a clear message to the HSE that moratoriums and severely restricting the recruitment of patient-facing posts is in breach of many safe staffing agreements between healthcare unions and the HSE,” said INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha.
She said nurses and midwives “on the frontline are crying out for support, and they feel ignored”.
“Instead of additional staff, they are being faced with recruitment embargoes and needless administrative obstacles,” Ms Ní Sheaghdha added.
However, Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne programme, HSE Chief Executive Bernard Gloster said the action “falls outside the terms of the Public Service Agreement which gives us stability”.
He added “one would have to be concerned when that reaction is against increasing growing numbers of staff in all of those disciplines and those numbers continue to grow”.
Mr Gloster said he expects to recruit 6,800 more people before the end of the year.
The HSE previously said its Pay and Numbers Strategy has enabled it to stabilise its workforce numbers and has allowed it to increase staffing levels.
