DOCTORS IN CORK are set to take industrial action over the wages of junior doctors.
Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHD) in the Department of Anesthetics in Cork University Hospital voted this week in a ballot organised by the Irish Medical Association (IMO) to take strike action.
This relates to to wage cuts that sees junior doctors salaries cut from €60,000 down to €50,000.
Since 14 July Cork University Hospital has been paying the NCHDs the reduced scale.
It was recommended by the HSE that the new scaling should be implemented in hospitals nationally, although at the moment Cork University Hospital is the only one to comply.
The IMO are concerned that the wage cuts could spread to other hospitals around the country.
Speaking today, Assistant Director of Industrial Relations at the IMO, Eric Young, said:
This ballot demonstrates the strong, united and determined will of the NCHDs to take action to prevent Cork University Hospital from breaching pay agreements and imposing unapproved pay scales.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, he expressed that the threatened strike action at Cork University Hospital had a focus on preventing similar salary cuts in the future.
It is hoped that a resolution can be reached with management of the hospital that will stop the proposed action from going ahead.
Over 3,000 NCHDs went on strike last year across Ireland in opposition to long working hours.
The strike action is set to take place next week.
In response to the proposed action, the HSE has issued a statement that:
Management in the HSE are in ongoing discussions with the IMO to ensure that an early resolution is brought about while maintaining the safe delivery of services. Management are seeking the agreement of the IMO to a referral of the dispute to the Labour Relations Commission. Management will actively continue to engage with the IMO to resolve the issue.
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