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Talks to take place at WRC aimed at averting planned strike by nurses and midwives

Talks aimed at averting strike action by nurses and midwives will take place in Dublin today. The...
Newstalk
Newstalk

07.03 23 Jan 2019


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Talks to take place at WRC aim...

Talks to take place at WRC aimed at averting planned strike by nurses and midwives

Newstalk
Newstalk

07.03 23 Jan 2019


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Talks aimed at averting strike action by nurses and midwives will take place in Dublin today.

The meeting between the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and the HSE at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is the latest attempt to reach agreement in a row over pay and recruitment.

Six 24-hour work stoppages were announced by the union earlier this month in an escalation of tensions, with the first action scheduled for this day next week.

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General Secretary of the INMO, Phil Ní Sheaghdha, explained that contingency planning on patient care will continue right up to the first strike date on January 30th.

She said: "We've spent a lot of time meeting the HSE, and we have confirmed that we will provide life-preserving services."

On the dispute itself, Mrs Ní Sheaghdha suggested that "no serious proposals" have been brought forward so far, but she's hopeful progress can be made at the today's talks.

She observed: "We believe there is ample room within the public service stability agreement to reach an agreement.

"We believe that that focus has to be brought to bear today when we meet the employers and government representatives at the WRC."

The union has argued that low levels of pay have left the public health service unable to recruit and retain enough nurses and midwives to safely care for patients.

The Government, however, claims there's already a public pay deal in place and reaching a separate deal with nurses would lead to pay claims from other public sector workers.


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