Treatment of Mayo health support staff in pay dispute 'unacceptable'

OVER 120 health support staff are on strike for 24 hours today at Mayo University Hospital.

They left their posts at 8 o'clock this morning as part of an ongoing pay dispute. The strike continues until 8 a.m. tomorrow.

Chefs, cleaners, porters and maternity care assistants are among those on the picket line outside the hospital.

This dispute is over a job-evaluation scheme and the failure to implement pay rises for the staff.

SIPTU has said talks will take place at the Workplace Relations Commission tomorrow in the dispute over health support staff pay, but stressed that next week's strikes have not been deferred.

Padraig Heverin, shop steward, said the manner in which the workers have been treated is unacceptable. As a result, 90% of Mayo health support staff voted in favour of industrial action.

"We were left with no option but to take the action we have done. It is having a major impact. If it goes to three days next week, there will be chaos. And it's all because the government reneged on a commitment given to us in the Landsdowne Road agreement," he stated. 

Asked about entering Labour Court talks, Mr. Heverin said: "We are not prepared to enter a new negotiating process in which the goalposts continue to move during the negotiating process."

Contingency plans are in place at the Castlebar centre but many inpatient procedures, outpatient appointments and surgeries have been cancelled.

The strike will be escalated next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday if a resolution is not reached.