u/La-Strawberry-6754

From IMO email

Dear Member,
 
There will be an IMO Webinar this Thursday regarding the planned work stoppage on 14th October and work to rule from 15th October.
 
Thursday 8th October at 7pm
Click Here to Register
 
Please share the registration link with colleagues – this webinar will be open to all doctors.
Only members of the IMO will be protected during the work stoppages and work to rule so please encourage colleagues to join the IMO and support this action.
The detailed actions to be taken by doctors across all health services will issue to members tomorrow.
Sincerely
IMO Team.

# FAQ

**Work Stoppage 14th October 8am to 5pm**

**Work To Rule from 15th October until further notice**

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## WHAT ARE PUBLIC SERVICE AGREEMENTS

Public service pay has been governed by a system of collective agreements since the Croke Park Agreement was negotiated in 2010. These multi-year agreements have contributed to stability within our economy by facilitating the delivery of quality public services, ongoing reforms and the maintenance of industrial peace in the public service.

These agreements are negotiated between the Public Services Committee (PSC) of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and Government. The IMO is the only trade union representing the medical profession on the PSC. Public Sector Agreements are NOT your contract of employment which is negotiated directly between the IMO and the Department of Health/HSE but is an Agreement through which collective pay increases are set out. It is important to note that GPs are not encompassed by any public service agreement as they are not employees of the public service but are independent contractors.

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## WHY IS THERE A DISPUTE BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SECTOR UNIONS

The last Public Service Agreement ended in June 2026 and over the lifetime of that agreement (Jan 2024 to June 2026) delivered pay increases of 9.25% plus a local bargaining provision of 1% to be paid during that period. Government has failed to conclude agreements on the 1% local bargaining fund with individual unions, including the IMO, and has not entered into any meaningful negotiations on a new Public Service Agreement which must, in the view of unions, recognise the cost of living challenges and rising inflation.

While preliminary meetings between union representatives and Government officials took place in June 2026 it was clear that the Government were not prepared to give firm commitments to addressing the particular challenges around pay at the outset and in such circumstances there was no basis for negotiations.

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## DID ALL UNIONS BALLOT FOR INDUSTRIAL ACTION UP TO AND INCLUDING STRIKE

All public sector unions, including the IMO, balloted members. The IMO mandate was supported by 94% of members who voted for industrial action up to and including strike on the issues around negotiations on a new Public Service Agreement.

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## WHAT IS THE PUBLIC SERVICE WORK TO RULE AND DAY OF ACTION

The public service unions, including the IMO, are acting collectively but determining their own Work to Rule Arrangements which will be different for each union. They are also acting collectively for Work Stoppages on 14th October – again the nature of the work stoppages will be different for each union.

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## WHO DETERMINES WHAT A WORK STOPPAGE AND WORK TO RULE WILL BE FOR DOCTORS

Each of the IMO National Committees for Consultants, NCHDs and Public/Community Health have considered what actions are to be taken and IMO Council has sanctioned:

- Work Stoppages from start of shift to 5pm on 14th October and
- Work to Rule arrangements from start of shift on 15h October until further notice

Following the mandate received from members and sanction of IMO Council notice of both Work Stoppages and Work to Rule was served on the HSE and Voluntary Hospitals.

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## WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

The IMO has held preliminary meetings with HSE on our notice of action and we expect that over the coming week more detailed meetings will take place around the precise nature of how the health service will operate during the Work Stoppage and contingency/derogation arrangements.

We are currently finalising detailed instructions for all members and these will be circulated next week

Member webinars will take place on Thursday 8th October and a registration notice will issue to you in advance

We are organising IMO Leads at regional and/or hospital level who will be your medical colleagues and who will have all the material required for your participation on the Picket Lines

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## DO I NEED TO CANCEL CLINICS

No, the cancellation of any services to patients is a matter for the HSE and they have yet to advise what their intention is in this regard. From previous health sector strikes the normal practice would be for the HSE to cancel elective and outpatient clinics – the timing of any cancellations and any contact with patients is a matter for the HSE.

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## SHOULD I ENGAGE NOW WITH LOCAL MANAGEMENT ON EMERGENCY PLANNING AND CONTINGENCY ARRANGEMENTS FOR 14th OCTOBER

No, any arrangements are to be agreed between the IMO and the HSE. The process for each site will be to act through their Regional Directors of People who will then liaise with HSE Employer Relations Division and the IMO will engage at that level. Continue to work to your agreed rotas and workplans until you hear further from the IMO.

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## WILL THERE BE ANY DEROGATIONS TO CERTAIN SERVICES

The expectation is that all services will be impacted, but some derogations will be agreed nationally to ensure that patient safety is maintained at all times. Members will be advised of agreed derogations in advance of the day of action.

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## HOW WILL PATIENT CARE BE MAINTAINED

IMO Council deeply regrets the need for Work Stoppages/Work to Rule and in determining the nature of any action, the issue of patient safety is a priority. To this end there will be different forms of action for each medical grade so as to ensure urgent and emergency patient care is prioritised. Where any patient risk arises you should take the action necessary to protect patients.

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## CAN I BE DISCIPLINED IF I PARTICIPATE IN INDUSTRIAL ACTION

No, as a member of the IMO you are protected against any action by your employer in line with the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act. The proposed action being taken by the IMO and other unions is a legitimate trade dispute.

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## WHAT DO I NEED TO DO NEXT

- Ensure you read all IMO communication and comply with instructions for both Work Stoppages and Work to Rule
- Attend IMO Webinars
- Talk to colleagues and encourage them to be part of the IMO and participate in this action
- Some health service grades have already commenced Work to Rule and IMO members should not do the work of any other grades participating in industrial action
- If you would like to be an IMO Lead at your place of employment please contact us at imo@imo.ie

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## REMEMBER YOUR IMO TEAM ARE HERE TO HELP ON THIS OR ANY OTHER CONTRACT ISSUE AND WE CAN BE CONTACTED AT:

Consultants@imo.ie

NCHDS@imo.ie

publicandcommunityhealthissues@imo.ie

Gpissues@imo.ie

Imo@imo.ie

IMO, together with all other public sector unions, including health sector unions, will participate in a nationwide public sector day of action on Wednesday 14 October. This action is being taken in response to the Government's failure to engage in meaningful negotiations on a new public sector pay agreement.
 
Following the overwhelming mandate received from members, and with the approval of the IMO National Specialty Committees and IMO Council, a work stoppage will take place on 14 October from the commencement of shift until 5:00pm.
 
In addition, a Work to Rule will begin at the start of shift on 15 October and will remain in place until further notice.
 
While the IMO Council deeply regrets the need to escalate industrial action, it is acting in accordance with the mandate provided by members and in solidarity with colleagues across the health service and wider public sector. We hope that Government will urgently enter substantive and meaningful negotiations to ensure our health services and the wider public service can recruit and retain a sustainable workforce.
 
Protecting patient safety remains paramount. The IMO's National Specialty Committees and Council are currently finalising arrangements to ensure that essential services are maintained throughout the period of action. The specific measures to be undertaken will vary across medical grades and specialties.
 
NEXT STEPS
 
The IMO will formally serve notice of the work stoppage on the HSE and voluntary hospitals.
Meetings with HSE representatives are scheduled to take place this week.
Further communications will issue shortly outlining the practical arrangements for the 14 October work stoppage and the Work to Rule commencing on 15 October.
A series of member webinars will take place over the coming weeks to provide guidance and answer questions. Members will receive invitations in due course.
All members participating in authorised industrial action will have the full support and protection of the IMO.
 
We encourage you to speak with your colleagues about the importance of this action and to encourage non-members to join the IMO so that doctors can stand together and support each other during this dispute.   
 
Please note that you must be a member of a union in order to be afforded the protections of the Industrial Relations Act in the event of industrial action.
 
Thank you for your continued support and solidarity.
 
Yours sincerely,
IMO Team

In the past week I’m seeing a massive increase in AI photos. It seems sellers are taking pictures of their item and asking AI to put it on a model. It’s very difficult to spot at first because the model appears to be taking a selfie. Then you realise the lighting is absolutely perfect and there are no creases or normal draping in the clothing. There’s something a bit disingenuous about it. Or maybe this is just the new way and eventually we will all be doing it.

The lady at the post office absolutely glared at me when she saw my Dunnes bag and the 4 parcels inside. 🫣 Then she didn’t want to give me time to affix the labels, was sighing and huffing, and kept asking me abruptly to scan the next bar code. I said that I’d like to do them one by one or I might mix up the packages/put the incorrect label on. She reluctantly agreed. I was only at the counter for 5 minutes max. I had shown up right at 9 am and only one other customer was there, being helped by a second staff member.

Now I have 8 items to send on Monday. I realised the name of the recipient can be cross referenced with the items they bought (I’m new lol), so I may just have them print all the labels and I’ll go away and affix them.

Do any of the post offices have a self service printing station? It would save the apparent hassling of the staff.

Realised I needed to stop. So I closed my account and opened a new one exclusively for selling. Made €140 on my first day. Here’s hoping the cycle of overspending can be broken! I am not a compulsive shopper so this is all new to me.

Just had a weird interaction today and wondering if this is a thing or if I’m overthinking it.

I was sitting at the marina alone with my 2 month old son in my lap, Sunday around 1.30pm.

A guy came over, 50s, tanned, small mixed breed dog (half beagle?) and he complimented my buggy (it’s a nice enough brand but very ubiquitous) and started asking about the baby, how old he was etc. Fine, normal enough.
Then he was telling me he “works outside” and likes how practical the buggy is.

Then he sat down really close to me and touched my arm and leg briefly while he was talking to me. I had my AirPods in the whole time and didn’t make much eye contact (he was honestly too close) which all felt pretty weird given I’d literally never met him before.

My husband was nearby with our daughter in the playground and said he’d noticed the guy. He thought I knew him from somewhere but I definitely don’t…
Maybe he was just hitting on me and using the baby as an opener, but the whole thing felt off. My mind went to “what if he’s interested in the baby” and feel sick.
Has anyone else had random men approach them specifically when they’re out alone with a baby? Is this a thing??

This whole story is odd but I know several people who prescribe GLP-1s to family members. I suppose it’s all fine and dandy until they report you, like in this case.

FFS

We had a visit by an absolute joke of a company - they charged $508 to lay traps and said they would return in two weeks to assess the situation. Getting them to do so took over a month of repeated calls and only once I left a detailed Google review did anyone agree to come for the follow up. I said I would edit my review if they showed up and did a good job. Then they cancelled the follow up visit three times, eventually requesting to come tomorrow (Sunday) between 5-8pm. The tenants have two toddlers so this isn’t ideal for them. I’m so embarrassed and just want to fix this situation. If anyone has had a good experience with a Toronto company, please share. Thank you.

Is Odysseus a surg reg? He gets stuck in a service job for 10 years before having to do another 10 years of training and fellowships, then once he gets through all this he has to fight 100 other fellas for a public job

I’m hearing SHO posts necessary for my scheme are in very short supply and I’ve been asked if I’d consider coming back part time instead. They are offering full credit for the post but it’s only half pay. It wouldn’t work financially for me, so I’m declining.

I thought maternity leave was well protected and now I’m worried about redundancy if they can’t find me a spot.