12th July
Dear Colleagues,
As you are aware we were due to meet the employer in relation to the HSE embargo on recruitment. We met with the HSE and Department of Health on Wednesday afternoon the 10th of July under the auspices of the WRC. At the meeting we outlined the rationale for mental health being exempt from the embargo, due to our vacancy rates at over 725, huge reliance on overtime and agency, implications on governance and service delivery.
A few hours prior to our engagement the HSE Pay and Numbers strategy was issued (CLICK HERE TO VIEW)
As the Pay and Numbers strategy had only been issued the management side were unable to clarify issues with regard to the impact of this for mental health. The management side also sought time to review and respond to the issues raised regarding the impact of the embargo on services, governance issues and the lifting of the exemptions on the recruitment of graduate nurses in some services.
The WRC requested us to defer our action to allow for further engagement under the auspices of the WRC. We agreed to convene an Officer Board meeting to consider the request. The Officer Board met this morning in relation to the matter and agreed to defer the industrial action.
We reconvene in the WRC on the 25th of July. The Officer Board will meet on the 26th of July to review the outcome of the WRC and also consider commencing industrial action the following week.
We will keep you informed of any further developments.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Hughes
General Secretary
