Strike to have “significant effect in Cavan”
The 24-hour nurses' strike planned for tomorrow looks set to go ahead following the failure by the Labour Court to arrive at an agreement between parties. The discussions, which ended just after midnight, accommodated by the Labour Court examined the positions of the health service management and nursing unions.
The proposed strikes will affect all but “emergency and life preserving cover” at Cavan General Hospital. The nursing unions have pledged to maintain emergency cover during the strikes, however the rescheduling of cancellations will impact on the local waiting lists.
The planned strike by members of the INMO on Wednesday will lead to widespread disruption in the health service with about 15,000 people across the country facing cancellation of hospital out-patient appointments or planned procedures.
Tomorrow will be the first of six planned 24 hour strikes by he Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO). The 37,000 members of the group will withdraw labour tomorrow (Wednesday January 30), and on February 5, 7, 12, 13 and 14.
The nursing unions say inadequate pay is impairing recruitment and retention of staff and they are seeking 12% pay rise to bring them into line with therapy grades like physiotherapists.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform maintain the €300m estimated cost of the nurses' claim would trigger knock-on claims across the public service, as happened when a €50m award to Gardaí in 2016 led to an additional €120m in payments to other public servants.
After yesterday's Labour court talks the General Secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, Phil Ni Sheaghdha, said despite a lot of discussion and dialogue, there was no change in positions and the strike was going ahead.
Even if there was a suspension of the industrial action thousands of patients have been discommoded by the cancellation of appointments.