Politicians will call for support for the medical scientists’ strike in the Dáil tomorrow.
People Before Profit/Solidarity are bringing the motion with one of their TDs, Gino Kenny, describing the lab workers today as “heroes of the health service.”
He also said he expects unanimous support from across the political divide for his motion.
Read More: Eamon Ryan says strike by medical scientists is 'worrying' for healthcare sector
Labour are “100% behind” the “hard-working frontline workers,” according to Labour TD and former trade unionist, Ged Nash.
Mr Nash called on Taoiseach Micheál Martin to directly intervene and “stop behaving like a commentator.”
The Dáil motion comes as an estimated 30,000 hospital procedures and appointments are cancelled this week because of the strike.
The health service workers went on strike for one day last week, two days this week and are planning three days next week if their demands are not met.
They are looking for fairer pay (an 8% hike), conditions and career progression from their employers in the Department of Health and the HSE.
The workers claim they are not paid as well as other laboratory workers in other grades who do the same or similar work across the health service.
Mr Kenny said: “This government, and successive governments, have treated the medical scientist workers in a shameful and disgraceful manner.
“They have been denied pay parity for 21 years, and now their modest demands of an 8% increase are being resided by the HSE, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the government.
“It's twenty one years since the Report of the Expert Group on Medical Laboratory Technician/Technologist Grades recommended pay parity between medical scientists and clinical biochemists.
“It's 21 years too since the HSE and Department of Health accepted that recommendation.
“Medical scientists are the hidden heroes of the health service.”
Mr Nash said: “we fully support the actions taken by the Medical Lab Scientists Association (MSLA).
“This particular dispute has been 21 years in the making and it is eminently solvable and the reality is that neither the Minister for Health, the HSE, nor the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has taken the opportunity [resented since the first day of action six days ago to make a meaningful intervention.”
The Labour TD for Louth added: “The Taoiseach is now behaving like a commentator and not like someone who has the power to make an intervention and solve this.”
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