WORK STOPPAGE ON 14^th OCTOBER

IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR NCHDs

The following is an updated position in respect of Work Stoppages on 14^th October and addresses specific NCHD issues.

Please note these instructions apply to IMO members.  

Non-members also benefit from the public service agreements, and we would ask that they join and support their colleagues in the IMO who are taking this action for a new public sector agreement and not do anything to undermine the action colleagues are taking.

 

WORK STOPPAGE ACTIONS 14^th OCTOBER

All public sector unions are engaging in a Work Stoppage on 14^th October.  This is as a direct consequence of the Government failing to engage in any meaningful negotiations on a public sector pay agreement. 

The last agreement expired in July 2026, and an effective pay freeze has been in place since then.

Additionally, claims submitted by the IMO that were due to be paid to NCHDs under the terms of the last agreement have yet to be paid.

The Work Stoppage for NCHDs will take place on 14^th October from start of shift until 5pm – outside of these hours normal rotas will be in place. 

The IMO has served notice of minimum staffing levels and derogations and has been engaged with the HSE in recent weeks to ensure safety is maintained.

As a member of a union, you cannot be disciplined for participating in the work stoppage - and any incidence of this should be reported to nchds@imo.ie

 

ROTAS

ALL NCHDS will work to the equivalent of a Sunday Rota on 14^th October – that being the equivalent to the same number of NCHDs that are normally present on a Sunday.  This is the minimum level of staffing served by the IMO on the HSE and all voluntary sites.

• There can only be ONE NCHD ROTA – Sites are not permitted to operate a rota for those participating in work stoppage alongside a normal rota.  Normal rotas are NOT in operation on 14^th October.  Following further discussions and engagement by the IMO, the HSE has confirmed this position.

 

• Your line manager is NOT PERMITTED to ask you if you are a member of a union or not or ask if you are participating in the work stoppage.  This is private and personal information and the HSE have specifically advised sites that this is both unacceptable and inappropriate.  The HSE have confirmed this point to all regions in correspondence on 9^th October following intervention by the IMO.

 

• NCHDs that participate in rota-making should have already been advised by line managers to create a rota for the Work Stoppage that is in line with Sunday staffing levels only.  If this is not the case, please contact nchds@imo.ie.  Do not seek to ascertain union status when creating rotas.  

 

DEROGATIONS

The areas below will be staffed as normal, and doctors working in these services will not be operating on a Sunday rota.

• Palliative/End of Life Care
• Cancer/Haematology Care
• Dialysis & Transplant
• Maternity Services – Sunday level of staffing plus 1 
• Sexual Assault Treatment Unit – continue on normal arrangements
• Addiction Services – minimum staffing necessary to provide service

 In respect of all time critical medical and surgical care it is envisaged that the level of staffing being provided by the IMO will cover such services and in the event of an emergency situation additional staffing will be available.

 

WHAT TO DO IF SITES ARE NOT COMPLYING WITH THE WORK STOPPAGE ROTA RULES

Contact the IMO at nchds@imo.ie – we will not use your personal information but will raise the issue with HSE in terms of the site/region.

 

WHAT TO DO ON DAY OF WORK STOPPAGE

 If you are rostered to work on the Work Stoppage Rota (Sunday Rota) attend for work as normal

• If you are not rostered to work you should attend the Picket for part of the day
• Be contactable to be called in to work in the event of an emergency – such situations will have been agreed with the IMO Disputes Committee and doctors will be contacted by the hospital in the normal way should such an event arise.
• Those on the night shift just before or just after the work stoppage will not be impacted during the work stoppage on 14th October.
• Those approved for annual leave/study leave on Oct 14th do not need to cancel this leave

 

 

Picket Lines and IMO NCHD Leads

• Pickets are an important part of the Work Stoppage Day
• Your IMO NCHD lead will run a picket line rota
• IMO material (placards and flags) will be distributed by the IMO NCHD Lead on the day
• If you do not know your local IMO NCHD Lead, please email nchds@imo.ie
• For NCHDs working in community settings please attend pickets at your nearest location which in the majority of cases be the nearest hospital.  We can put you in touch with the IMO NCHD Lead for that site if you email nchds@imo.ie

 

PAYMENT ON THE DAY OF WORK STOPPAGE 

• All NCHDs working on the work stoppage rota on 14^th will be paid
• Those not attending work will not be paid – however we would hope that any subsequent negotiations will achieve pay increases in the future which will mitigate against any loss of pay on 14^th

 

SUPPORTING THE IMO AND YOUR COLLEAGUES

The IMO is the only trade union representing NCHDs.

It is important that all NCHDs join the IMO, stand together and support each other in this action and indeed in any future actions that may arise for NCHDs.  We are currently in protracted talks with the HSE on a new NCHD contract, so solidarity is more important than ever.  

What we do is for ALL NCHDs not just IMO members so everyone will get the benefit, so it is important that everyone plays their part in the fight for improved terms and conditions. 

For colleagues who want to join direct them to  https://www.imo.ie/join-now/form/