Healthcare unions, representing 110,000 staff, are accusing the HSE of jeopardising patient services by the introduction of a recruitment freeze last September.
The Labour Court is hearing a complaint from unions that employers breached the current national agreement, Towards 2016, as well as the information and consultation directive by failing to consult with them before unilaterally imposing the freeze.
IMPACT National Secretary Kevin Callinan said the HSE issued a circular on 8 January indicating that all posts that were vacant at the beginning of September, or fell vacant and were not filled by the end of December, were effectively abolished
However, the Director of Industrial Relations at the HSE, Brendan Mulligan, categorically rejected accusations that the employers had breached any agreements.
The Labour Court will rule on whether the HSE breached legislation covering staff rights to information and consultation.
