HSE to let 1,000 experienced nurses/midwives go as part of Graduate Employment proposal. 03.01.13
- Unions confirm plans to boycott HSE proposals
- Joint INMO/PNA rally to oppose HSE proposal for “cheap” graduate nurse/midwife recruitment to take place on Saturday, 5th January 2013, in Croke Park
- Joint INMO/PNA rally to oppose HSE proposal for “cheap” graduate nurse/midwife recruitment to take place on Saturday, 5th January 2013, in Croke Park
The INMO/PNA have reaffirmed their outright opposition, to the proposed HSE graduate programme, and reiterated their shared view that it is nothing other than an attempt to introduce cheap labour under a superficial guise of an educational graduate programme. This is patently untrue.
The two unions also believe, following a further review of the graduate programme proposal by the HSE, it is now clear that 1,000 experienced nurses/midwives will be let go to make way for the new graduates on 80% of the agreed rate of pay.
The two unions are therefore calling for a boycott, of this flawed initiative, and a national rally, in support of this opposition, will take place at 11.00 A.M. ON THIS SATURDAY, 5TH JANUARY 2013, IN CROKE PARK.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s rally, Des Kavanagh, General Secretary PNA, said:
“The HSE are presenting this flawed initiative as some sort of opportunity for new graduates. All it is, in reality, is an overt attempt to recruit cheap labour in breach of agreed salaries”.
Liam Doran, General Secretary INMO, said:
“There are no new jobs attached to this initiative and its introduction will simply put 1,000 experienced nurses and midwives out of work, while giving transient work to the new graduates.
The INMO/PNA, ahead of the rally on this Saturday, reiterates our call, to all new graduates, to boycott this initiative”.
Saturday’s rally, which will be attended by 2012 graduates, agency nurses, temporary nurses on panels awaiting permanent posts, and fourth year undergraduates, will review the impact of the current proposals and set out the next steps in the campaign for an agreed graduate programme paying the proper rate.
The INMO and PNA have, as the HSE has acknowledged, continuously campaigned for the ending of the HSE’s dependence on overtime and agency nurses/midwives. Instead we have sought the employment of our graduates and the regularisation of agency staff to fill vacant posts and replace overtime. These measures would also yield payroll savings, for the HSE, potentially greater than proposed under this flawed initiative.
It should also be noted that the nurses/midwives, recruited under the proposed programme, will have to undertake the full range of duties and responsibilities of a Staff Nurse/Midwife. Therefore they must be paid on the agreed salary scale and not the 80% as proposed in the HSE’s graduate initiative which is ill thought out and grossly unfair.
In opposing this proposal the INMO/PNA restate that the starting salary of a newly qualified nurse/midwife has already been cut by over 24% since 2009. Full details with regard to the salary of a new Staff Nurse/Midwife and the potential for savings, while respecting all approved salaries, are on the fact sheets attached to this press release.
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