THE majority of the State's non-consultant hospital doctors will be balloted for industrial action to commence in March unless substantial progress has been achieved to improve their pay and working conditions.
The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) represents 1,900 of the State's 2,500 non-consultant hospital doctors, and the decision to ballot for industrial action comes amid growing frustration at the long hours and poor pay which they have to endure.
Talks are planned with health service employers to address these issues, but the IMO's non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHD) committee unanimously agreed at the weekend to put a March 17th deadline on these negotiations. Members will be balloted for industrial action to commence if substantial progress has not been achieved by St Patrick's Day.
An IMO spokeswoman said no decision had been taken as to what form this industrial action might take. That would be a matter for the union's industrial relations executives, she said.
The IMO visited 45 hospitals and met almost 1,000 doctors over the past two months. "The clear message doctors are sending is that anything less than a radical overhaul of the terms and conditions governing their working lives will leave them with no option but to prepare for industrial action and ultimately to seek work abroad," the IMO warned.
Health service employers have agreed to three-stranded talks, involving pay and conditions, training issues and other infrastructural problems.
While these talks are underway, a separate study will be undertaken by PA Consulting on the hours currently being worked by NCHDs. This is due for completion by the end of April.
The IMO director of industrial relations, Mr Fintan Hourihan, warned that doctors would only support a new agreement if it offered substantial improvements in the overtime rate for NCHDs.
These overtime rates must be brought into line with other health care professionals, he said.