Dublin lab workers have taken part in strike action at hospitals across the city over pay and career development issues.
Around 2,100 medical scientists who are with the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association (MLSA) are taking part in the industrial action from 8am to 8pm over a dispute about pay and career development issues.
It means many hospitals in Dublin and beyond will have no lab testing service throughout the day.
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Lab workers and scientists were gathered outside the Mater Hospital in Dublin this morning as part of the strike.
Speaking to Dublin Live, Dr Mary-Anne Horgan, senior medical scientist in micro-biology at the Mater Hospital, said that today's strike action follows issues going back over 20 years.
She said: "We're looking for pay parity with biochemists, there's probably a difference in the pay scale of 8% and we're doing the same work, working side by side.
"And also there's an issue with our lab aids some of whom don't have science degrees but they're starting on a higher pay scale than our scientists who've come through four to five years in college, and also career progression needs to be looked at."
Dr Horgan said that there is currently a "big problem" with the recruitment and retention of staff.
"At the moment there's about a 22% shortage of vacant positions and since Covid has arrived it's really exacerbated the issues because we require more scientists to deal with with Covid testing etc."
Dr Horgan said that while the HSE has been in talks with the MLSA for a long while, the lab worker's issues have not been met by the HSE.
Meanwhile, if action is not taken by the end of the month there are two more demonstrations planned by the MLSA.
Dr Horgan said: "We have a single day today the 18th May and next week two days in a row next Tuesday and Wednesday then a third week is planned the following week Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday."
The Medical Laboratory Scientists Association (MLSA) has said it has been “left with no alternative” but strike action after many rounds of unsuccessful talks with the HSE.
Some 98% of its members supported the strike in a ballot last November.
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