Unions to ballot members on new Caredoc proposal

Updated / Tuesday, 23 Dec 2025 16:20 Caredoc workers staged a protest at the company's headquarters in Carlow last month Marc O\u0027Driscoll By Marc O'Driscoll South East Correspondent The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and SIPTU have announced that they are to ballot their members after finalising a new proposal with Caredoc. It comes after members of the INMO and SIPTU employed at the doctor-on-call service staged a day of industrial action last week and withdrew their labour as part of a pay dispute. The dispute was primarily centred on the workers at Caredoc - triage nurses, receptionists and drivers - receiving an 8% increase in pay that they say was part of a Workplace Relations Commission agreement made in 2023 but never implemented. The unions had originally planned to stage further 24-hour and 48-hour strikes over the Christmas period. 'Improved proposals' However, this strike action was suspended, and the unions have now confirmed that they plan to put "improved proposals" to their members. INMO Industrial Relations Officer, Gráinne Walsh said she hopes the matter can finally be resolved in the coming weeks. Ms Walsh said: "Our members had no desire to withdraw their labour, particularly at such a busy time of year for the health service, and the employer should not have forced them into this situation before doing the right thing. Having to go on strike was truly a last resort. "Comparable pay across the health service is vital to retaining staff across all critical services. The out-of-hours and triage services provided by our members in Caredoc represent a crucial resource and one that is heavily relied on by patients and doctors across the country. "We now have a proposal that we can present to members for ballot, and we hope that this matter can finally be resolved in the coming weeks." Caredoc provides GP out-of-hours services in several areas of the country Meanwhile, SIPTU Health Division Industrial Organiser, Ger McNally said: "Our members showed great determination and strength in engaging in strike action to pursue their legitimate pay claim. "It was most unfortunate that the HSE and Caredoc management did not intervene sooner to resolve this pay dispute which could have averted strike action. "The strength and resolve shown by our membership throughout this process has yielded a positive outcome. We hope that this action will demonstrate the power and strength workers can have when they join together to become a strong voice in the workplace," Mr McNally added. Caredoc provides GP out-of-hours services in the south east of the country in Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford and south Tipperary. However, it also provides these services in south Wicklow, as well as in the north west of the country in Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim and west Cavan. Its community intervention teams also provide care in the home services in the south east and in Co Wicklow. Read more SIPTU, INMO members suspend Caredoc strike action Pay dispute resolved between Caredoc service and HSE Talks between HSE and Caredoc...

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