THE HSE has told staff it seems unavoidable that incomes will take a further reduction in the near future.
However, in an internal memo to all employees yesterday, the executive’s national director of human resources, Seán McGrath, signalled that if there were to be cuts in earnings management would prefer if non-core pay such as allowances and premium rates were hit rather than basic salary.
“HSE management has engaged with senior health service trade union leaders for the purpose of agreeing changes in work practices and cost containment measures. With a bit of foresight and flexibility we can achieve the savings that are required by Government without affecting basic salaries. Currently, our non-core pay bill every year is in excess of €1.2 billion,” he said.
Mr McGrath said that management was well aware that cuts in income would cause a great deal of anger and resentment. However, he added that “we have to consider the alternatives which are the possibility of basic salary cuts or, worse, the threat of job losses”.
The memo also warned of the implications for patient care in the event of staff taking industrial action at a time when the public was more demanding of their services. He said that all healthcare professionals had a moral and professional responsibility to ensure that there was no disruption to the continuity of care. “As public servants, self-interest should not come before this and we need continued co-operation from all staff to provide the appropriate services for the people in our society who need us most,” he said.
“Worryingly, the unions have indicated that taking into account the direction of travel proposed by the Government, that serious industrial unrest is likely. While management and unions will have differing views as regards how to achieve the savings required by Government, we as management respect the views of the staff representative bodies but acknowledge that their business is first and foremost to represent those who pay their subscriptions and not necessarily what is best priority for the patient or client.”
Mr McGrath said that the unions had consistently resisted management plans for redeployment, extending the core working day and shelving some third party agreements that were no longer appropriate. “There is frankly no greater disservice that we offer than agreeing to industrial conflict . . . when we require all our energies to preserve services . . . A harsh financial climate is no excuse for poor services or to inconvenience the public,” he added.
“Galvanising support for industrial action will not only divide us further but ensure that the health service will not be in position to protect the most vulnerable,” he said.