INDUSTRIAL action planned by 80,000 healthcare workers in a row over staffing has been called off.
Unions suspended a work-to-rule set to begin tomorrow.
The action was being taken by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, Forsa, Connect, Unite, and the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association.
It centred on the HSE’s pay and numbers strategy, which the INMO said “imposed a fixed employment ceiling across all health services” and suppressed any new recruitment since December 31, 2023.
Workers said restrictions on recruitment were a breach of safe staffing agreements between healthcare unions and the HSE.
The work-to-rule and other non-cooperation action was suspended after 22 hours of talks at the Workplace Relations Commission.
Proposals from those meetings are now set to be put to union members.
INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said that progress has been made with the HSE in the proposals “on ensuring that vacant posts will be filled” and delays filling the jobs streamlined.
She said: “Nurses and midwives will now be balloted on the proposals.
“They will want to be assured by their employer that the delivery of safe staffing is an immediate priority.”
Forsa’s Ashley Connolly said its executives met yesterday and made the decision to stand down their industrial action to consider the proposals.
Brian McAvinue of Connect said: “While progress has been made, there is still work to be done on the commitments made on delivering direct employment.”
Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill thanked both sides for working to reach a deal.
She added: “This agreement ensures patient safety and continued delivery of all essential services.
“I am delighted that our plans to recruit over 6,500 additional staff in 2025 will continue, while this agreement will ensure the HSE continue to operate within their allocated pay budget.”
HSE CEO Bernard Gloster said: “We are very pleased that the threat of disruption has been lifted.”
