The dispute centres on union concerns about the HSE's use of agency personnel and contractors in the HSE Office of the Chief Information Officer to deliver ICT services, rather than using direct staff employees already on recruitment panels.
Among the extensive list of services impacted are the Microsoft Covid-19 tracker, financial management systems, the Service Desk self-service facility, Microsoft Teams, video-conferencing, the issuing of mobile phones, laptops and other devices, orientation of external contractors, consultants or agency personnel.
In a response to Fórsa last Thursday, HSE Chief Operating Officer Michael Redmond described the union move as "quite shocking" - particularly at a time when the health service was at the centre of a global pandemic which had had unprecedented fatalities across the world. "This directly impacts the HSE's ability to manage the pandemic and will impact on the health of Ireland's citizens with an onward impact on HSE staff. We should not underestimate the seriousness of the situation," said Mr Redmond.
"Detailed engagement prior to each was not practical nor achievable as it transpired, and no project was adversely impacted such that it needed escalation to our agreed process."
And this is why we need to keep a private health care system. HSE is unionised to the hilt and change is slow and painful. €18bn a year we spend on health. Top 15 in the world but stranded in old technology and work practices.
I am a local authority engineering member of forsa_union_ie . I think it has a stupid name and has a horrible logo/branding. Why did we have to change from being called IMPACT which at least was a smart acronym?
forsa_union_ie seriously?
I thought under new covid-19 legislation unions are not to invoke industrial action of any sort