INMO/PNA Intensify Campaign of Opposition to Low-Paid Graduate Nurse/Midwife Programme. 22.01.13
Press Release
- Delegation to meet TD’s/Senators in Leinster House as boycott continues
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation(INMO) and the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) are intensifying their campaign of opposition to the low paid graduate nurse/midwife programme by inviting all TD’s/Senators to an information briefing session in Leinster House tomorrow, Wednesday, January 23rd at 12 noon.
At the briefing session a delegation from the INMO/PNA, which will include new graduates, will inform those present about the flaws in this initiative, and clarify why and how, savings can be made while still respecting agreed rates of pay. The new graduates will explain, first hand, why the initiative will not work. Following the meeting, members will be advised in each constituency, which of their local representatives attended the session and what their responses were.
The campaign of opposition has been further galvanised by the Minister for Health’s comments, over the weekend, which effectively said, to these new young professionals, either take this low paid job (with 100% responsibility) or you can emigrate or work behind a fast food counter. The two unions, since the weekend, have been inundated with calls, from the new graduates, saying how insulted they felt at these comments from a Minister and fellow health professional.
Our agency nurse members, who would be sacked/let go by the HSE have also contacted the unions to express their anger at the Minister’s comments and his complete failure to even mention them, let alone recognise the contribution they make, every day, to maintaining essential frontline services.
The recent announcement, from the HSE, that the programme was to be extended, to graduates from 2010 and 2011, only confirmed the sole motive for the programme namely cut price nursing jobs. The pretence that this was, in some way, an educational initiative, specifically designed for new graduates, has been exploded, by the HSE’s actions and the resolute stance of the 2012 graduates.
At tomorrow’s meeting all party TD’s will be told the boycott campaign remains firmly in place, is being adhered to on a rock solid basis and will continue until the Department/HSE come to the negotiating table showing respect for these excellent registered and regulated professionals.
Speaking ahead of the meeting INMO General Secretary, Liam Doran said:
“The opportunity to allow the new graduates meet with TDs, from all parties, is most welcome and is just the latest stage in our on-going campaign.
At the meeting the graduates will clearly identify the flaws of the proposed scheme while explaining that there are no additional jobs, no additional nursing man hours and that 1,000 experienced nurses will effectively be sacked.
As part of the campaign the position of all TDs, with regard to this flawed programme, will be made known to our members in every constituency across the country.”
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