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08th Jan 2019

Irish nurses to go on 24 hour strike at end of the month over pay dispute

Jade Hayden

Nurses are set to go on a 24 hour strike on January 30 over a pay dispute.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (IMNO) voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action late last year due to issues around pay, recruitment, and staff shortages.

The union has said that a 12 percent pay increase will align them with other health professionals and reduce job retention issues.

37,000 nurses across the country will go on strike on January 30 for 24 hours.

Further 24 hour strike action will take place on February 5, 7, 12, 13 and 14 if the dispute is not resolved.

This is the second time that INMO have opted to take strike action in history.

Last month, General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said that 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.”

This comes after the union released a report stating that hospital overcrowding was at its worst last year, with a record number of people without beds.

108,227 patients were left waiting on trolleys or chairs in 2018. This is nine percent more than the number of patients without beds in 2017, and almost double the number recorded in 2006.

Topics:

INMO,news,strike