Impact March and Protest in Cork

cork | anti-capitalism | feature

Thursday June 12, 2008 02:00

by Kevin and Ray - Cork WSM

Workers from the IMPACT union marched from Cork University Hospital to the HQ of the HSE on Model Farm Road today at 1 pm to protest against the ongoing recruitment embargo being orchestrated by the HSE.

The protest, part of national action, was joined by nurses from CUH, by IMPACT members from the Mercy Hospital and by workers from City Hall. Placards called for an "End To The Jobs Embargo" and "No To Cuts". About 300 workers in all took part.

The protest comes at a time when the situation in a range of Cork hospitals is reaching a critical situation. The Mercy Hospital is itself at the centre of a confrontation about its new A & E unit which has yet to see a patient - we kid you not! - due to the financial restrictions imposed on the hospital by the HSE and Mercy Management. see http://www.wsm.ie/news_viewer/4013.

The situation is no better at CUH where the A & E is already stretched to capacity and where vac ant positions are not being filled. As this situation continues, the "Harney Solution" is intending to claim it first victim in Cork and at the CUH later this year: plans are now well advanced for the construction of the Beacon Medical Centre on the grounds of CUH. http://www.wsm.ie/news_viewer/3620 Beacon is a ‘For Profit’ medical centre and is intended to be the first in a series of ‘co-located’ private hospitals – a la Harney and the Government.

The IMPACT action is an important and significant attempt by health workers to fight against the ongoing cuts and restrictions being placed on our health service. As their work to rule begins to bite, it has been met by a round of intimidation from the HSE directed at IMPACT members. As today’s protest showed these efforts at intimidation will not be tolerated. Nevertheless it is important over the next period that further awareness is raised about the current IMPACT action and about the need to work for more solidarity, not just inside the health service but also outside. As the saying goes: together we are strong.