Some 28,000 members of the Impact trade union working for the HSE are to suspend industrial action from tomorrow morning pending the result of a ballot on a settlement proposal.
Impact members have been engaged in industrial action since May 21st in protest at recruitment restrictions and cutbacks, which were put in place a year ago to deal with the HSE’s financial difficulties.
The action escalated in June to include withdrawal of cooperation from reporting procedures.
In a statement, Impact confirmed the action would be suspended from 8am tomorrow to allow members ballot on a settlement proposal put forward by the Labour Relations Commission.
Negotiations between Impact and the HSE concluded last night at the LRC.
Impact assistant general secretary said the proposal represented a “very significant achievement” for Impact members working in the health service.
“It includes a strong emphasis on a requirement for greater consultation between the HSE and Impact members,” he said.
“We also have draft agreements between Impact and the HSE in relation to procedures regarding vacant posts, the use of agency staff, and an agreed process of consultation on issues regarding temporary staff."
Impact said that as part of the LRC proposal, a number of outstanding agreements and third-party recommendations, which had not been previously implemented, have been “resolved or timetabled for immediate resolution”.
Mr Donnelly said that while the outstanding industrial relations issues have been brought to a conclusion, pending the ballot result, Impact’s campaign against health cuts would continue.
"The commitment and support of our members, in sustaining the current industrial action, has been a decisive factor in coming this far. However, our members are still deeply concerned about any further cuts to public health services, and will continue to campaign against the systematic erosion of services."
The HSE recently cited those involved in the industrial action under the Towards 2016national partnership agreement, effectively an indication they would be denied a pay rise of 2.5 per cent due to them this month.
Those involved in the industrial action included administrative and managerial grades as well as therapy staff.
The result of the ballot is expected in about three weeks.