Fórsa, Ireland's largest public service trade union, has served formal notice of industrial action on health sector employers, with initial targeted measures set to begin on September 30.

The formal notice was issued on Wednesday to major public health employers, including the Health Service Executive (HSE), Tusla (the Child and Family Agency), and Section 38 voluntary organisations that deliver health and social care services on behalf of the State. The step follows a nationwide ballot in which 96.6% of participating Fórsa members voted in favour of industrial action, up to and including strike action, following the expiry of the previous public service pay agreement at the end of June.

Commencing September 30, Fórsa members working across the health sector will work strictly to contract, role, and grade, while refusing overtime or work outside agreed contracted hours. Union members will also withdraw cooperation from HSE and Tusla restructuring and implementation processes, decline to cover duties attached to vacant or unfilled posts, refuse to complete national financial, data, and performance reports, and refuse engagement with external private management consultants.

While the Industrial Relations Act requires one week's notice for industrial action, Fórsa confirmed it is observing the established convention in health services by providing three weeks' notice. The union said the extended notification period reflects the essential nature of health services and provides employers with time to put necessary contingency arrangements in place.

Ashley Connolly, Fórsa's head of Health and Welfare, stated that serving notice marks a planned and proportionate escalation by public service workers who regard the Government's current position on public pay as unsustainable. Fórsa indicated that the health sector notice is the first in a series expected to be issued to public service employers across local government, civil service, and education sectors in the coming weeks.

The notice coincided with an announcement from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) that over 99% of its voting members had also backed industrial action over public service pay. Meanwhile, Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers previously described the threat of industrial action by public sector unions as unnecessary and unwarranted, maintaining that the Government remains committed to negotiating a fair public pay deal.