Annual Conference Calls On INMO Members To Reject Pay And Reform Proposals

- The protection of patient care is the union’s priority

Following a two hour debate the 320 delegates, at the INMO Annual Delegate Conference in Trim, unanimously called upon all INMO members, in a nationwide ballot commencing next week, to vote no to the “Croke Park Proposals” on public service pay and reform.

The debate involved a detailed presentation, on the proposals, of the INMO’s alternative vision for the public health service and numerous contributions, from delegates, vividly recording the serious difficulties they are encountering in striving to provide safe care to patients.

The debate saw a particularly strong endorsement of the proposal to seek the lifting of the current recruitment embargo on frontline staff which has resulted, to date, in the loss of over 2,000 nursing/midwifery posts and a threat of a further cut of 6,000 frontline staff over the next three years.

The INMO will now commence a three week nationwide workplace ballot involving regional and local meetings to appraise all members of the reasons behind the call for rejection and the alternative vision for the health service. 

In making this decision the delegates also endorsed the strategy that a no vote would not lead to any escalation of industrial action as it decided to suspend, the current work to rule, upon completion of the ballot with any further industrial action only being commenced after a renewed mandate for same was obtained from members. 

Speaking on this decision INMO General Secretary Liam Doran said:

“Today’s decision, if accepted by our members in the forthcoming ballot, clearly, and directly, challenges the government and the Health Service Executive to come back to the negotiating table and agree an alternative to the flawed, harmful and unsafe policies currently being followed, for the health service, by health employers and government.

We are recommending a no vote while also recommending no further escalation of industrial action to allow our alternative vision, for our public health service, to be discussed and rolled out over the next three years”.

This morning’s proceedings also saw a keynote address by Health Author and Analyst, Ms. Sara Burke, who summarised the frequently contradictory policies introduced into the health service over the past decade and clearly mapped out the implications, which directly arise, from the existence of our two tiered system, which explicitly allows preference to be given to a private patient.  Ms. Burke concluded her contribution by challenging the INMO to continue its campaign for universal health insurance and a single tiered health service where need determines access.

Today’s annual conference also saw the unanimous acceptance, of an emergency motion by our Dublin North Branch, rejecting the placing of extra beds on wards in Beaumont Hospital and indicating full support for our members, in that hospital, to take whatever action is necessary to protect patients, their privacy and their dignity, all of which will be compromised by the placing of extra beds on all inpatient wards.

The conference will be addressed tomorrow by Ms. Mary Harney TD, Minister for Health and Children, and Ms. Sheila Dickson, INMO President, will give her annual Presidential address.

In addition the proposals on a new Nurses and Midwives Bill, currently before the Oireachtas, will be debated in detail.  In conclusion Mr. Doran said:

“The message, from today’s discussions, was that patient care is being compromised, nurses and midwives are not being listened to and the extent of bed closures and other cutbacks are realities which cannot continue unchallenged. The INMO will now redouble its efforts to highlight these serious shortcomings and challenge the policy makers to accept alternatives which are viable, economically informed and, most importantly, patient friendly”.

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