SIPTU today began balloting over 4,000 health workers from the Eastern Regional Health Authority for strike action in a row over the non-payment of salaries.
According to SIPTU negotiator, Mr Paul Bell, balloting will be completed before March 22nd. The strike action is planned for March 29th and Mr Bell said every effort would be made to ensure minimal disruption to the public.
Included in the group are catering staff, porters and ambulance personnel. SIPTU claims that aspects of recent pay agreements have not been fulfilled. He said this was the second time SIPTU members in the health service have been forced to take action because of shortages in their pay packets.
However a spokeswoman for the ERHA said: "Increases for non-nursing staff following on the Analogue Agreement we signed off on at national level in the middle of January. The Department of Health and Children sanctioned this increase at the end of January and the three area health boards in Eastern Region were notified of this shortly afterwards.
"The new rates will be paid on March 29th and the arrears will be paid to all staff by the end of April."
She added that SIPTU have been informed of these arrangements.