January 10th, 2013

1,000 Experienced Nurses/Midwives to be let go as part of cheap labour graduate employment proposal


The INMO/PNA, ahead of tomorrow’s launch of the HSE’s graduate employment programme, have reaffirmed their outright opposition, to this flawed initiative.  Both unions reiterate it is nothing other than an attempt to introduce cheap labour under a superficial guise of an educational graduate programme.  

Furthermore, 1,000 experienced nurses/midwives will be let go to make way for the new graduates on 80% of the agreed rate of pay.  Therefore the programme involves the sacking of experienced nurses/midwives and replacing them with these underpaid graduate colleagues.

The INMO & PNA urge all new graduates not to be taken in by the HSE’s disingenuous marketing of these contracts as a “great start” to their nursing careers. The programme is nothing other than a “false start” to a graduate career.  

All graduates, under the programme, will have to undertake 100% of the duties of a registered nurse/midwife.  They will not have any special mentoring/support and will carry the full responsibilities of every other regulated professional.  This deserves payment of the proper salary and not an attempt at cheap labour.

Des Kavanagh, General Secretary PNA, said:

“The HSE continues to present  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 only transient work to the new graduates.

The INMO/PNA therefore reiterates our call, to all new graduates, to boycott this initiative”.

Mr. Doran concluded:

“We repeat our message to all new graduates; do not get your career off to a false start, boycott these contracts and respect yourself, your degree and your profession”.

-Ends-