The Mid-Western Health Board was last night making efforts to put in place emergency cover for health services in Co Clare ahead of a strike due to begin on Monday.
Yesterday, SIPTU announced that 150 members, half of them nurses, in the Clare mental health services are to start indefinite strike action following the suspension of three clerical staff without pay earlier this week.
SIPTU branch secretary Ms Mary O'Donnell said the union has not yet agreed emergency cover with the health board. She said SIPTU members had already balloted for strike action last July over the dispute.
The row centres around new working conditions for the three receptionists after their relocation to Ennis's new €6 million psychiatric unit following the closure of Our Lady's Hospital last April.
A health board statement said yesterday it has made every effort in giving opportunities to the staff members to resolve the matter, adding that the three received on average €3,500 in compensation for the move to the new unit. The three have now been suspended for four weeks "having grossly misconducted themselves in relation to their employment with the board".
However, Ms O'Donnell said yesterday that the health board "refused to apply fully and properly the terms of the closure agreement of Our Lady's Hospital, negotiated on behalf of all SIPTU members, to the receptionists".
She regretted that the health board's action has resulted in strike action. "The strike action will have huge consequences and the health board have known about this since last July when the ballot was taken. The receptionists worked in totally unacceptable conditions for over three months while they pleaded with the health board to treat them fairly."
