UNITE Trade Union has called the HSE's accusations against their University Hospital Waterford members as 'unfounded'.
This comes as the HSE announced last Thursday that University Hospital Waterford staff involved in industrial action would not receive pay rises due to them.
A letter sent to the Unite trade union last Thursday accused members of having broken the Public Sector Agreement terms.
As a result, it was decided the HSE would not be paying University Hospital Waterford union members any pay increases applicable to them.
Unite Response
On foot of this, Unite the Union have issued a letter addressed to Paul Byrne, National Employee Relations with the HSE.
The Union categorically rejects the assertion that their members have breached the Sector Agreement.
Additionally, they claim that such non-payment itself constitutes a breach of the agreement and is therefore in violation of it.
Addressing the HSE, the union say failure to pay the increases due to staff has the potential to escalate the dispute and industrial action.
Unite Regional Officer Eoin Drummey, told WLR that the refusal to pay highlights the severe mismanagement and disregard for both staff welfare and patient care.
University Hospital Waterford Dispute Escalation
In a statement to WLR, Eoin referred to the accusations made by the HSE.
"The recent actions by the HSE to block pay increases due to the work-to-rule action at University Hospital Waterford are unacceptable, which shows a blatant disregard and disrespect for our members' rights under the Public Sector Agreement."
He added: "The HSE's failure to honour the PSA and provide the rightful pay increases is a gross injustice to our hardworking members."
He says: "The HSE has not only chosen to ignore, but violated the agreed disputes mechanisms contained and available under the PSA but has also failed to engage appropriately on adequate contingency measures."
A letter has recently been issued from hospital management to in-patients apologising for any impacts on patient care, specifically during meal times.
However, Eoin says the failure of the HSE to adopt any contingency measures 'is the direct cause of any disruption to patient care and service provisions.'
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