Health sector workers belonging to the IMPACT trade union have voted to take industrial action if necessary to oppose cuts in jobs, pay and public services.
Delegates at the unions’ health and welfare sector conference in Castlebar, Co Mayo, voiced anger about the recent pension levy and cited instances where services had been hit.
IMPACT National Secretary Kevin Callinan accused the HSE of having a military mindset and condemned what he called outrageous cuts, which would see young people providing vital services thrown onto the dole - as well as further reductions in already dwindling incomes.
Mr Callinan said the force of a leaked memo on cuts in jobs and allowances was being reviewed but warned that the core threat of major job losses remained.
He said members were not opposed to change but would resist its imposition every time.
Delegates claimed that services were already being hit by cuts in travel and mileage rates.
Mary Jane O'Brien from the Wicklow branch said that child protection workers would be unable to carry out their duties to supervise children at risk because the number of miles they were allowed to claim for travel to family homes had been cut - without regard to the nature of the work they do.
The conference carried a motion calling on the union to seek clarification from the HSE as to who would be legally responsible in the event of the death of a child in situations where child protection social workers were faced with high case loads.
Nurses in favour of industrial action
The Irish Nurses Organisation has backed all-out strike action if necessary, in opposition to health cuts and staff restrictions by the HSE.
The union represents over 40,000 nurses.
The emergency motion was passed unanimously after a 90-minute heated debate at its annual conference in Killarney.
Numerous speakers spoke of their frustration and anger over the effects of cuts on patients.
Delegates heard of nurses struggling to provide a safe service in intensive care due to staff shortages and staff working voluntary unpaid overtime.
It was announced at the conference that nurses at Sligo General Hospital have voted by a majority of 97% in favour of strike action over the non-renewal of nursing contracts.
Later today, some INO members will stage a protest at Killarney Community Hospital against the abolition of the Director of Nursing Post from the hospital.
Minister for Health Mary Harney will get a sense of the growing militancy among the profession when she addresses delegates tomorrow.
Elsewhere, the threat of strike action by staff at the Mercy Hospital in Cork was lifted following talks between the INO and hospital management yesterday.
Nurses had threatened to strike cuts in premium payments for staff.
However, management at the hospital have now agreed to cancel the measure pending negotiations next week on alternative ways to reduce costs.
A strike ballot being arranged by the INO has been deferred to facilitate the discussions.
