MLSA are a disgrace

Complete and utter nonsense.

Medical science in TUD (formerly DIT) was 576 points this year.

CIT/UCC course was 590

ATU galway (formerly GMIT) was 517

Most Medical scientists also have a masters as its needed for promotion.

This is a highly educated profession.

Biochemists can only work in one department. How can you have specialities like Haematology, Blood transfusion, Histopathology Etc without medical scientists.

"Absolute scutter" again, LOL. Coming from the poster who had to emigrate and now is waxing lyrical about how he has a good job in a great university.

Plenty of discussion on the issues faced by actual scientists in that other thread.

Sounds like you are suffering from a type of Stockholm Syndrome or have a vested interest. As you work for a university, likely a combination of both.

The career prospects for med lab scientists are better than those for scientists with majors in chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, environmental science and others. The fact that med lab scientists are now striking doesn't say much for science as a career choice.

I've noticed this with you in other threads. telling people they're talking sh*te and denying their experiences/shutting down discussion by demanding evidence that you know can't be provided. Then fecking off. I wonder what evidence would suffice for you in this case? Payslips or lists of names of those who had to do a second degree because they couldn't get a job with their science degree. Including names of those who went back to study med lab science because their first science major was a mistake. Then managed to get a job and are now on strike.

I can't understand how anyone wouldn't support our healthcare system (or other emergency services like fire and gardai) being well funded including fair and equal pay.

100% back strike action when people have been fobbed off, especially to this length. The HSE itself is a shitshow that requires an overhaul, funding and a massive recruitment drive. 4 day weeks for the staff and ensuring they are working set hours and not being run into the ground.

I don't give a **** how much it costs because when I'm on a hospital bed I'd prefer to be treated by people who are happy with their working conditions than people who are overworked and underpaid.

absolutely, workers should never be allowed strike, ever, they should just suck it up, and get on with their lives, and be grateful in life!

Salaries in private match the rates agreed in the public hospitals.

This disputes predates the creation of the HSE

Point out where I said that MLS should earn less. I already said I support their strike.

Lack of recognition of scientific work and 18 year olds being misled by vested interests, the clueless and those with short memories regarding the career prospects in science - that is relevant here.

The medical scientists have had a valid gripe for 20 years yet only now are striking, why is that. A "nothing to see here, shut up and keep the head down" type attitude from some? Like in the other thread where you refused outright to take on board anything negative about science job prospects despite your own posted history of emigration and difficulty getting a job.

Scientific work is regarded as nonproductive, it isn't patient facing and the general public doesn't understand it. It's already an uphill battle without people talking rubbish about all the "great opportunities" in science. I've come across several scientists who complain regularly about their career path yet have agreed to do presentations to secondary school kids on scientific careers and only a positive spin was allowed. I'm seeing a pattern here.

So, to sum up, as per Martina1991's posts, the current CAO points for med lab science are 517-590 (517 is about a top 25% LC and 590 about top 5%) And for that very decent LC, the starting salary for a medical scientist is 34.4k, less than that for other health professionals. And here's what you can expect to deal with:

"poor conditions, morale and burnout that cause staff to leave the profession when they're in it"

"profession was threatened with outsourcing, redundancies and further pay cuts"

"told big satellite labs will be set up around the country where all GP samples will be processed. The hospital labs will be downsized and people will be out of a job"

"Fear and intimidation"

"will have to wait another 8-10 years for a shot at promotion when the next person is due to retire"

"lack of permanent contract"

"Staff shortages are in every grade"

"chronic staff retention issues"

This is clearly bad - but other science grads who don't have the all important specific degree, CORU legal requirement and unionised PS employment have it worse. As I already stated, I know science grads who returned to college to study med lab science because of the rubbish career prospects with more general degrees in chemistry, microbiology, biochemistry etc. None of them regretted that decision. Others went down the rabbit hole of PhD, short term postdoc contracts and forced emigration. Others got the hell out of science as soon as they could afford to retrain for an actual career which was anything from plumbing to accounting. Oh yeah, during the financial crisis I interviewed science PhDs (with postdoc experience) for unpaid Jobbridge "jobs" and had to reject them because there were more applicants than "jobs".

The points made by me and others in the other thread are only strengthened by what is coming out about medical science in this one.