I will accept that things are not as black and white when it comes to hospitals verses an office situation, but it has come to this due to a complete lack of adaptability or even a willingness to adapt to changing situations without downing tools and spending six weeks in negotiations. HSE management staff have had plenty of time to buck the trend but failed.
I am in the exact situation but ask a public sector employee to do this, cue unions/strikes etc. This is where the private sector has finally become fed up with public sector workers, not just HSE staff.