More than 3,000 junior hospital doctors may be balloted on industrial action if plans to cut overtime and allowances go ahead, the Irish Medical Organisation said today.
The IMO said it would ballot for action if the Health Service Executive introduces changes to contracts and allowances from next week.
IMO president Dr Martin Daly said: “No other group in the health sector are being targeted in such a manner. They are already paying the pension levy like all other public service employees.
“These proposed cuts, which include unpaid meal breaks, removal of training grants and unplanned cuts in overtime will have major implications for an already overstretched hospital service, reduce standards of training for our future doctors and create further delays in the treatment of patients.”
The HSE has said it needed to reduce hours to an average of 48 hours a week to comply with the EU directive on working time.
There are also continuing negotiations because of the wider need for savings during the economic downturn.
A HSE spokesman said: “We would be disappointed if they were to choose the route of industrial action. We would hope their interests are in the patients and in their treatment.”
PA
