Nurses and midwives who are members of the INMO have voted to go on strike, in a dispute over staff shortages and pay.
The INMO's executive council, made up of elected nurses and midwives from across Ireland, will meet on January 7th and 8th to discuss the result - which saw 95% vote in favour of the action.
The executive will determine dates for a 24-hour national strike, which will see INMO members withdraw their labour - providing only emergency and lifesaving care.
This would be the second time in the INMO's history that its members have taken national strike action.
Nurses and midwives last engaged in strike action in 1999.
This issue centres on staff shortages, which the INMO says has been caused by low pay, leaving the public health service unable to recruit and retain enough nurses and midwives to safely care for patients.
💪✊ðŸ½ðŸ’ª The nurses and midwives have spoken! 95% vote FOR strike.
The INMO's elected Executive Council will meet on January 7th and 8th to set dates for 24-hour strike.
United we stand! pic.twitter.com/li9NYQh3Ml
— Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (@INMO_IRL) December 18, 2018
"Nurses and midwives are the lowest-paid graduate professionals in the health service, earning thousands less than similarly qualified health professionals, despite having a longer working week", it says.
Recent government pay proposals did not affect most nurses and midwives, and were rejected by 94% of INMO members in October.
INMO General-Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha says: "Ireland's nurses and midwives are speaking with one clear voice.
"This vote reflects a deep frustration in our professions, which the government cannot continue to ignore.
"Nurses and midwives simply want to do their jobs and care for patients properly. But low pay has led to staff shortages, compromising safe care.
"Ireland's current haphazard approach to nurse staffing is costly and bad for patient care, as confirmed by the Minister for Health's own nursing taskforce."
File photo
INMO President Martina Harkin-Kelly adds: "I don't know a single nurse or midwife who wants to strike. We just want to get on with the job we love, but staff shortages have made that impossible.
"We've reached a breaking point.
"Nurses and midwives are united. We’re standing up for safe staffing, fair pay, and for our patients, who deserve better care.
"It’s time for Government to listen to frontline voices and fix this problem once and for all."
