Early talks at LRC expected on doctors' strike threat

The chief executive of the Labour Relations Commission, Mr Kieran Mulvey, is expected to call both sides in the looming doctors…

The chief executive of the Labour Relations Commission, Mr Kieran Mulvey, is expected to call both sides in the looming doctors' dispute in for informal talks today or tomorrow. This follows the Irish Medical Organisation's announcement that its industrial action will start with a one-day strike by 3,000 non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) on May 17th.

Earlier yesterday the IMO and Health Service Employers' Agency failed to agree a basis for further talks on NCHDs' working conditions. The HSEA sought an IMO commitment to joint discussions under an independent chairperson, for the introduction of a shift system similar to that operating for other health professionals.

However, the IMO was not prepared to continue talks without more specific proposals being tabled. Its director of industrial relations, Mr Fintan Hourihan, said the decision to take industrial action reflected the NCHDs' anger and frustration after six months of fruitless negotiations.

He also questioned the value of the HSEA's suggestion for intervention by the LRC when the employers had not made any substantive offer in direct talks. The IMO did not object in principle to a shift system. The HSEA's failure to guarantee it would implement the NCHDs' contract in full or reimburse NCHDs for arrears of overtime had also aggravated the situation. "We are now in a situation where we are being forced to go ahead with an all-out national strike", Mr Hourihan said.

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The director of industrial relations at the HSEA, Mr James Doran, maintained the agency's position that "a fundamental review" of working patterns was needed to bring doctors' working hours and overtime rates in line with other health professionals.

He said a shift system would help to reduce the working week for NCHDs to the 48-hour maximum required by the EU within nine years.

Last night the chairman of the Irish Patients' Association, Mr Stephen A. McMahon, said the IPA had consistently supported the IMO's pursuit of "safer working hours and better working conditions".

He also asked the IMO to participate in third-party talks and said patients could not be "pawns" in an industrial dispute. The IPA would be seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister for Health, Mr Martin.

Mr Martin was being briefed on developments last night. Meanwhile he came under attack from opposition parties. The Labour spokeswoman, Ms Liz McManus, called on him to bring forward a new initiative to resolve the dispute, while Mr Alan Shatter of Fine Gael said the Government was totally incapable of managing the health services.