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Republic of Ireland nurses set for industrial action over poor working conditions

Members of Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation have voted in favour of action due to start next month.
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Nurses and midwives in the Republic of Ireland are set for industrial action next month in protest over ‘chronic overcrowding and understaffing’.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said the action will take the form of an immediate and continuous work-to-rule from 7 March.

The INMO has rejected staffing, recruitment and retention proposals put forward by the Health Service Executive, labelling them ‘totally inadequate’.

Poor working conditions

INMO president Martina Harkin-Kelly said: ‘In considering the proposals, executive council members presented numerous examples of nurses and midwives unable to provide full care to their patients; working beyond the end of their shift without pay; unable to take meal breaks; and facing unmanageable workloads because of the appalling conditions and inadequate staffing they face every day.’

A ballot of INMO members at the end of last year received a 90% mandate in favour of industrial action.

The organisation said it will also begin a series of ‘rolling stoppages’ if the dispute is not resolved.

Government response

Republic of Ireland minister for health Simon Harris, and minister for public expenditure and reform Paschal Donohoe, said in a joint statement that they were ‘deeply disappointed’ with the outcome of the INMO executive committee meeting.

The impact of the proposed industrial action will be discussed at a meeting today of the Lansdowne Road Agreement Oversight Group, a body that oversees the government’s pay and workforce agreements for all public sector workers. 


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