The Western Health Board (WHB) was warned today that protest action was likely if it maintained its present approach over job cuts.
IMPACT spokesman Mr Shay Clifford said the union wants to meet the Board next week to discuss the 169 job losses which were announced earlier today. He criticised the Board for issuing notices before meeting the union saying this had provoked real anger among staff.
The WHB has identified 169 posts to be cut. This including nurses, ward attendants, laboratory staff and clerical workers. The Board stated in a letter to the union that it would be looking at all contract staff and considering current and future recruitment.
The union’s western regional health executive is due to meet next Friday and the national health executive will meet the following Monday. IMPACT represents all clerical and administrative staff in the region.
The General Secretary of the Irish Hospitals Consultants Association expressed his alarm at the announcement.
Mr Finbar Fitzpatrick said the 169 people laid off today had been employed because they were needed and their absence would create a worrying void in services.
He said there was also a worry that any over-funding this year would represent a surcharge on the WHB and other Health Boards for 2003.