Health Workers Claim Taoiseach Offered “Too Little, Too Late”

Health workers are hitting out at the Taoiseach for offering “too little too late”.

10 thousand support staff, including 800 at University Hospital Limerick, downed tools for 24 hours from 8 o’clock this morning, in a row centering around pay and a jobs evaluation scheme.

With a further three further back-to-back strikes planned for next week they’re warning they won’t back down unless there’s meaningful negotiation on the matter.

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A strong message to Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe there from striking Hospital support staff at University Hospital Limerick.

Around 800 workers here, a further 200 at the maternity hospital and 100 at Croom Orthopaedic Clinic are among 10,000 nationally demonstrating today.

The row centres over what SIPTU says is €16 million in pay increases owed to them arising out of a job evaluation scheme.

Talks at the Workplace Relations Commission failed to see a resolution being reached and the Taoiseach has urged the union to attend the Labour Court now.

But SIPTU’s Assistant Industrial Organiser for the Midwest, Spanish Point man Mark Quinn says those are just empty words.

With thousands of cancelled appointments nationwide, the UL Hospitals Group is reminding patients here that unless they have been otherwise advised, they should show up as planned.

Ennis General Hospital is unaffected by the industrial action today while the emergency department in Limerick is open for business as usual.
Clonlara man, Jimmy McMahon who is a porter in UHL says they’re tired of how they’re being treated, but workers on the picket line today have told Clare FM that they’re staying optimistic.

As things stand, there are three consecutive days of strike action planned for next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, unless a resolution is found in the meantime.

Healthcare assistant Denis Ryan says unless the government engages in meaningful talks, they won’t be going anywhere.