Public sector nurses and midwives to vote on strike action

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) will begin balloting all nurses and midwives who are public sector employees for potential industrial action.

In a statement the organisation said the Government have “failed to return to protracted negotiations on renegotiating the current public sector pay deal ‘Building Momentum’ with a palatable offer on pay.”

A week-long pre ballot information campaign for INMO members will commence on August 24th with a view to commence balloting for industrial action on September 1st, should talks with the Government fall through.

INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: “The decision to ballot nurses and midwives is not one that is taken lightly but the refusal of Government as the employer to act on spiralling cost of living has left us with very little choice.

“Talks have been suspended since June 17th while inflation has reached a high of 9.1 per cent, fuel continues to remain extremely expensive, rents continue to rise and childcare costs equal that of a second mortgage.

“Nurses and midwives do not get to opt out of these costs or find ways to cut corners as working from home is not an option.

“The current offer on the table will do very little to bridge the gap between the real pay of nurses and midwives and cost of living increases. If we are serious about maintaining and expanding the current nursing and midwifery workforce then as the employer, Government must come forward with a realistic solution.

“Nurses and midwives are facing another difficult winter, the commitment shown since February 2020 when this pandemic hit should of itself have led to a realistic pay offer by Government last June, and it is time to stand together with other public servants and show that this treatment of public servants is simply not acceptable.”