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Nurses and midwives to strike on Wednesday January 30th

Ireland's nurses and midwives will go on strike for 24 hours on Wednesday January 30th. The strik...
Newstalk
Newstalk

15.54 8 Jan 2019


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Nurses and midwives to strike...

Nurses and midwives to strike on Wednesday January 30th

Newstalk
Newstalk

15.54 8 Jan 2019


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Ireland's nurses and midwives will go on strike for 24 hours on Wednesday January 30th.

The strike centres on low wages as well as recruitment and retention problems.

It will see INMO members withdraw their labour for 24 hours, providing only lifesaving care and emergency response teams.

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The union says should the dispute go unresolved, there will be further 24-hour strikes on February 5th, 7th, 12th, 13th and 14th.

It says the Health Service Executive (HSE) has not been able to recruit and retain enough nurses and midwives on current wages.

It adds that the number of staff nurses fell by 1,754 (6%) between 2008 and 2018.

INMO General-Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha says: "Going on strike is the last thing a nurse or midwife wants to do.

"But the crisis in recruitment and retention has made it impossible for us to do our jobs properly. We are not able give patients the care they deserve under these conditions.

Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) General-Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha (third left) before a press conference at their headquarters in Dublin | Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

"The HSE simply cannot recruit enough nurses and midwives on these wages.

"Until that changes, the health service will continue to go understaffed and patient care will be compromised."

The INMO were due to meet with the Government in the national oversight body in December, but the meeting was cancelled.

INMO President Martina Harkin-Kelly adds: "We entered these professions because we care for our patients.

"We'll be going on strike for the exact same reason. Ireland's patients deserve better than this understaffed health service."

The Health Minister Simon Harris says he does not believe that industrial action is warranted, and could be avoided.

In a statement, he says he believes there is 'a clear need for engagement'.

He also says it is essential that the time is used by all sides to find a resolution.

In that context, health sector management is to invite the INMO to meet with them next week.

The Government has repeatedly ruled out granting the 12% pay rise sought by nurses and says there would be knock on claims across the public sector.


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