Medical scientists on the picket line at Cork University Hospital say they’re willing to enter talks with the HSE, however they say their union has heard nothing from the Executive.
It’s the second day of protests outside hospitals, with four more days of action planned in the next week.
Thousands of outpatient appointments have been cancelled today and tomorrow, although emergency is being provided.
Yesterday the Taoiseach told RedFM News that strike action should be called off to allow for talks between the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association and the HSE.
Speaking to RedFM News outside CUH in the past half hour, medical scientist Paula Twohig says her and her colleagues felt like they had no choice but to strike:
"If a reasonable offer of genuine talks was on the table, everyone would sit around. Our initial strike was canceled on March 30th to go to talks and nothing was brought to the table. So the initial strike was canceled, which led us to this. We are committed to patient care. We don't want to be here. We want to be doing our jobs, but we have been driven to this; 20 years waiting, equal pay for equal work."
RedFM News has contacted the HSE for comment.
