HSE 'Contract Changes' Slammed

One of Ireland's largest unions has slammed what they claimed are attempts by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to impose lower rates on agency workers.

The union, SIPTU, said that the HSE had issued contracts at reduced that were still in dispute, and that some may have been signed off by union members.

In a statement released on Tuesday, SIPTU spokesman Paul Bell said: "Understandably you have been making enquiries about SIPTU's position re the signing of agency contracts, which allows for a decrease in hourly pay."

Mr Bell said that despite the union's best efforts to address the situation through the mediation group, the Health Service Implementation Body, the HSE has maintained reduced rate contracts with agency worker providers would be invoked with effect from March 15.

"I have received information from colleagues that some contracts may have already been issued by the agency companies," he said.

Mr Bell said that in order to maintain the necessary pressure on the HSE to reverse its decision, and to maintain existing rates of agency pay, members who are agency workers should "consider very carefully the wisdom of agreeing to work for lower rates of pay than your existing agency contract", which have been negotiated by the Union.

The SIPTU spokesman said the current rates were in line with existing pay rates within the Public Health Service and were also applicable in the major health providers in the Private Hospital sector.

"Agreeing to work for lesser rates…would significantly undermine any possibility of success on the part of SIPTU, on your behalf, and other health unions to secure appropriate pay rates for Agency Workers," Mr Bell said.

David Hughes, Deputy General Secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) joined SIPTU's calls to resist contract changes, and advised all agency nurses that they should not agree to work for lower rates of pay than those recommended by the INMO and already paid by an existing agency.

(DW/KMcA)