THE HEALTH Service Executive (HSE) has warned that staff taking part in a planned escalation of industrial action from next week could face disciplinary procedures including possible suspension.
About 28,000 members of the trade union Impact have been engaged in a work-to-rule for the last fortnight in a dispute over controversial recruitment restrictions put in place by the HSE.
However, as part of a planned escalation of the campaign from Monday, the union has instructed members not to co-operate with HSE corporate management by attending meetings or providing details on issues such as employment levels, budgetary developments and monthly activity statistics.
Impact said its strategy for the industrial action was aimed at affecting HSE bureaucracy rather than patients.
However, in a letter to Impact yesterday, the HSE said it would view the proposed escalation "in a most serious light" as some of the tasks to come within the scope of the expanded industrial action made up constituent elements of duties of individual staff members.
Separately, the HSE told The Irish Times last night it would be forced "to respond appropriately". The HSE said "this may involve action up to and including disciplinary procedures". It said "disciplinary procedures included . . suspension". However, last night Impact national secretary Kevin Callinan said the union would consider any moves to impose disciplinary action on members as "a very serious matter".
Meanwhile, health service management and nursing unions were last night awaiting a report from the National Implementation Body on outstanding issues involved in the introduction of a shorter working week for nurses.
The Government agreed last year to implement a 37.5 hour week for nurses from the beginning of June on the basis it would not cost additional money or affect patient services. However, an independent performance verification group has only signed off on local agreements for 10,300 nurses. Agreements covering a further 2,000 nurses are believed to be close to conclusion.