INMO Live-Newsflash No. 5: 19/11/09

I refer to the forthcoming day of strike action, across the entire public sector, being organised by public service unions as part of the campaign to protect members from further cuts in their pay and conditions of employment.

As part of the INO’s involvement in this strike day the INO Executive Council has decided the following:

1. Duration of Action:

INO members will be participating in the day of action from 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. on Tuesday, 24th November 2009.

2. Acute Hospitals - Elective/Day Services/Admin/Education:

Members will be withdrawn completely from elective/day services including:

*outpatient departments;
*day hospital wards/units/departments; and
*administration and education.

3. Acute Hospitals - Other Inpatient Wards/Units/Departments:

Local strike committees should roster a minimum of two nurses, to each inpatient ward/unit/A&E department, to ensure that essential care is available to patients. In the case of Theatre, the normal on-call arrangements should be applied. Strike committees will advise regarding the restricted nature and form of the duties to be performed in these areas.

4. Community Nursing Services:

INO members will be on strike, in community nursing services, and the local strike committee will provide an essential call service only.

5. Excluded Areas/Services:

The following sectors/areas are excluded from the strike, based upon patient/client need, and members should report to work as normal:

*care of the elderly hospitals/homes/day centres;
*intellectual disability services;
*palliative care services;
*delivery wards/units in maternity hospitals/departments; and
*intensive care units in acute/maternity hospitals.

The range of intensive care facilities excluded, subject to them having patients on the day, will be finalised by the local strike committee.

Lunchtime protests may be organised, for a two hour duration, in the care of the elderly and intellectual disability workplaces to show members support for the overall day of action.

6. Strike Committees:

Strike committees have, or are, being established in all workplaces, where industrial action will take place, and further, more detailed, information will be made known locally, through the strike committee, and/or your local Industrial Relations Officer.

In most locations the strike committees should be formed on a joint basis, with other unions, to ensure consistency of approach.

7. Picket Duty:

It should also be noted that members who are on strike and/or days off will be rostered, in conjunction with members from all other unions, to participate in pickets in all major health service workplaces.

The INO approach, as detailed above, was communicated to the health service employers, at a meeting this morning (Wednesday, 18th November 2009), and we understand the HSE will be communicating the details of the INO’s approach, to all local managements, immediately.

It is recognised that there will be many issues to be determined, by local strike committees, but the Executive Council, having determined the above strategy, calls upon all committees to apply the above criteria when determining its response to local issues.

Thank you for your attention to this matter at this very difficult time.

Yours sincerely

Liam Doran
General Secretary