HSE response to upcoming actions

national | worker & community struggles and protests | news report Friday October 30, 2009 20:26 by Judy - WSM - PC

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The following was an email received by all HSE staff into their email accounts by management this week.

Dear Colleagues,

You are no doubt aware of the significant debate that has taken place on the whole issue of public sector pay over the last few months. You will also be aware that much of the debate has been ill-informed and quite often seeking to set public sector workers against their colleagues in the private sector. We know things are not so good on the economic front currently and that there is a mood of disappointment and of deep worry as many sectors are forced to lay off workers. We had a taste for a while of an Ireland with nearly full employment and we saw the confidence it brought and we don’t want it to disappear. However, many certainties have disappeared and we now need to approach how we do business in healthcare in a different way.

At this juncture, it seems inevitable that people’s disposable income will take a further reduction in the near future. From the beginning of this recession, HSE Management has engaged with senior health service trade union leaders for the purpose of agreeing changes in work practices and cost containment measures. With a bit of foresight and flexibility we can achieve the savings that are required by Government without affecting basic salaries. Currently, our non-core pay bill every year is in excess of €1.2b.

I am well aware that cuts in income, no matter how they are done, will cause a great deal of anger and resentment. We have seen this happen in other sectors over the past year. However, I think we have to consider the alternatives which are the possibility of basic salary cuts or worse the threat of job losses. Significantly, whatever decisions is made, we must keep a very strong focus on what is best for our patients and clients. The public will still look to us to do more, and will be more demanding of our services. As public servants, self interest should not come before this and we need continued co-operation from all staff to provide the appropriate services for the people in our society who need us most.

Some recent public comments and actions by the combined health sector trade unions on public sector pay came as no surprise at this time. Worryingly, the Unions have indicated that taking into account the direction of travel proposed by the Government, that serious industrial unrest is likely. While Management and Unions will have differing views as regards how to achieve the savings required by Government, we as Management respect the views of the staff representative bodies, but acknowledge that their business is first and foremost to represent those who pay their subscriptions and not necessarily what is best priority for the patient or client. If industrial action does take place, this action will directly affect those who require our services. The importance of the health service can be so easily overlooked or given low priority by staff when considered alongside personal interests and other challenges faced by citizens every day.

Over the last few months we have discussed with the health sector trade unions the issues of redeployment of staff across health care settings, an extended working day that moves us away from the core 9-5 ‘business hours’ culture and shelving of a number of third party agreements that were created for a purpose, and a time, that are no longer relevant or appropriate today. Agreement to these measures will greatly assist us in delivering for patients in these turbulent and changing economic times. However, up to now, the trade unions have consistently resisted our plans and have failed to recognise that we need new thinking, not just in words but in the way that we work. In addition the decision by the health service trade unions to instruct members not to cooperate with redeployment requests arising from the Government Moratorium on Recruitment and Promotions in the Public Services has been an unwelcome development and has impeded the HSE in maximising efficiencies through the restructuring of work/services.

We now have an opportunity to change and while it was probably time to do this anyhow, we now have no alternative for reasons no one wished. There is frankly no greater disservice that we offer than agreeing to industrial conflict at a time when we require all our energies to preserve services to those who most need them. A harsh financial climate is no excuse for poor services or to inconvenience the public. Despite some unfair public service criticism in certain parts of the media, the selfless work that you do is what defines our services and gives it its compassion. There are countless examples where health care professionals are rightly deserving of our respect, praise and continued gratitude. Galvanising support for industrial action will not only divide us further but ensure that the health service will not be in position to protect the most vulnerable. All health care professionals have a moral and professional responsibility to ensure that there is no disruption to the continuity of patient care and I would therefore ask you to continue to recognise this over the coming weeks.

Yours sincerely,

Séan McGrath

National Director of Human Resources

Health Service Executive