Nurses set to vote on new proposals after strike action called off
The head of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has denied that proposals agreed at the Workplace Relations Commission last night breach the Lansdowne Road Agreement.
"Absolutely not, we never went near, we never sought to breach the Lansdowne Road Agreement," he said.
“These are measures to reflect the reassures within the emergency department, they do not in any way affect the pay and condition referred to in the Haddington Road.
"Governments are not funding the health service; but what we had to do to our members was to try to make it more manageable in emergency departments and they will now decide whether it does".
"If they do they'll vote yes, if they don't they'll vote no - and the days of action will commence on January 12.”
Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin said that the proposals will have to be in line with the Lansdowne Road Agreement.
Minister Brendan Howlin says the proposals will spark the interest of other public-sector unions, but the Lansdowne Road Agreement is not up for re-negotiation.
“I’d be very surprised if unions weren’t looking for interesting things to advance the interests of their members, that’s what they’re paid to do,” he said.
“But from the Government’s perspective, the negotiating stance of the Department of Health, and certainly of my department, is that we have a public-sector pay deal. I’ve allocated 300m of our scarce fiscal space to increased public-sector pay next year.”
Nurses will be given up to three weeks to consider new proposals agreed in late-night negotiations that saw planned strikes in emergency departments called off.
Seven hospitals were due to be hit by a series of two-hour rolling walkouts throughout the day.
Irish Nurses’ and Midwives’ Organisation (INMO) general secretary Liam Doran said nurses who were asked to strike would have the final say.
“The INMO’s consistent objective, throughout this whole campaign, has been to ensure emergency departments are as safe as possible for patients and staff,” he said.
“Our members will now be fully briefed on what has emerged and they will decide whether they are capable of improving the current environment experienced, by both patients and staff, every day.”
The INMO received proposals in last-ditch talks at the Workplace Relations Commission.
They include earlier activation of the national escalation policy which is used to stop trolley waits reaching crisis levels.
Also, a new minimum safe staffing level based on the number of patients being treated, a €1,500 payment for new staff who complete one year and special staff dedicated to care for patients on trolleys.
The proposals suggest A&Es be designated specific workplaces to ensure higher standards for staff.
The INMO said the threat of other strikes on January 12 and 26 remain place while the offer is being considered.
