INMO members working in the public health service were balloted throughout the month of August regarding the cost-of-living pressures nurses and midwives are under.
The votes were counted today and 99.2% of members voted in favour of industrial action. This is strong mandate and follows similar results from Forsa trade union, SIPTU and the Irish Prison Officer Association. Our colleagues in the teaching sector will return their results in the next number of weeks. Public sector unions are making it clear that we are dissatisfied with the employers and government’s lack of engagement when it comes to matching wage increases to inflation.
Nurses and midwives don’t have the opportunity to work from home, when we are rostered on, we are expected to show up. The government have failed to grasp that our members are out of pocket by the time they cross the threshold of workplaces due to the high cost of rent, public transport and for some fuel for cars, where public transport is not available and where personal cars are needed to provide the service on behalf of the state.
The INMO executive council met this evening and sanctioned the mandate for Industrial action; we have, this evening, notified your employers that all INMO members in the public health service intend to commence Industrial action from the 30th September.
This is separate to the dispute involving senior nurse/midwife managers and linked grades, and as identified in the notice to those members on 8th September, the industrial action for those grades will commence on 29th September.
The Executive council will meet again next Monday and Tuesday and prepare plans for members meetings and the establishment of strike/dispute committees in workplaces. We will not be the only trade union in dispute, and we are meeting with all unions affiliated with the ICTU public service committee this Friday to agree a coordinated approach to the Industrial Action.
We must act a one in relation to this issue, public services are an essential part of any working society, healthcare, education and government services must be funded properly to meet the growing demands of the increasing population of the country, and they must be staffed safely by workers and employees who are not struggling with the rising cost of living in Ireland. I know you agree that it is long overdue time for employers and government to listen to the public sector workers who are providing essential services, often on a shoestring with inadequate staffing, and pay them enough so that cost-of-living shocks are understood and catered for in any agreement.
Next steps are the establishment of strike committees, getting organised in workplaces to commence industrial action in three weeks’ time, and showing government and employers the consequences of not listening to the public sector workforce.
Members will be contacted again once the Executive Council meeting next Monday and Tuesday have concluded. Members should contact their local INMO representative and get involved in local committees we need all members to work in solidarity at this crucial time .