Medical scientists suspend strike action on Labour Court recommendation

Medical Scientists have agreed to suspend planned industrial action and take part in further talks to resolve long-standing recruitment and retention issues in the sector.

The Medical Laboratory Scientists Association (MLSA), which has 2,100 members, accepted the recommendation of the Labour Court that it return to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) for further talks. Their employers, the Department of Health/HSE, have also agreed to the Labour Court proposal.

The medical scientists are seeking pay parity with biochemists who are paid 8 per cent more than them. They also complain that 20 per cent of approved hospital posts are unfilled because of poor pay and that they have less training supports and fewer opportunities to progress their careers.

There has already been two days of industrial action affecting some 35,000 medical procedures and appointments. The MLSA has called off the two other days of industrial action due to take place on Wednesday and Thursday this week and three planned for next week to facilitate negotiations.

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In its recommendations, the Labour Court requested that both parties engage further at the WRC for at least three weeks.

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It has requested notification after that time frame if an agreement has been reached or not.

The dispute has been ongoing for 20 years and industrial relations talks with employers failed to reach agreement earlier this year. The scientists have been supported by the main opposition party Sinn Féin and by People Before Profit.

The scientists are seeking restoration of pay parity with colleagues in biochemistry labs which they maintain was lost in 2002. There has been overwhelming support among them for industrial action with 94 per cent voting in favour late last year.

Medical scientists, often referred to as med lab technicians, carry out diagnostic testing of patient samples in acute hospitals, including urgent testing for Covid-19 which added an extra burden to their workload throughout the pandemic.

Many say advances in laboratory diagnostics have led to an increased workload and increased responsibility which has not been addressed by the HSE.

The Labour Court states that, if there are further outstanding issues, they should be referred back to it. The court has the authority to make a recommendation that is binding on both parties.

MLSA general secretary Terry Casey said the union remained committed to resolving severe recruitment and retention issues in the sector and to achieving a sustainable work structure for medical scientists, patients and the Irish health service.