Nurses and midwives will become the latest public servants to push the government for pay restoration when the Inmo union begins its annual conference today.
Irish Rail drivers, teachers, gardai and prison officers have all called for improved pay and conditions in recent weeks, prompting plans for the establishment of a commission to review public sector salaries.
A spokeswoman for the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation said that since 2008 its members’ pay had fallen by 16 per cent on average, and more than 5,000 posts had been cut. As well as addressing these issues, delegates will call for a 37-hour working week in line with other health service workers.
The spokeswoman said that as nurses now work longer hours and in an expanded role, pay should be restored as soon as possible.
She added that the outgoing government had campaigned on the strength of the economic recovery during the general election, meaning that there was no need to reduce public sector pay.
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“Inmo members want to see this recovery reflected in their take-home pay and staffing levels restored to allow them to provide safe care to their patients in a properly functioning health service. This will be a central issue at this week’s conference,” she said.
Liam Doran, the union’s general secretary, said that in recent years experienced nurses had left the profession because they were “growing tired of pay cuts, long hours, excessive workloads and a general approach from management which ignores these realities”.
Mr Doran said that the commission on public sector pay should be given the power to swiftly initiate pay increases and improved conditions for nurses and midwives.
“The current slow pace of restoration of pay is neither fair, reasonable nor sustainable in the context of an economy which is growing at up to 7 per cent per annum.
“At this conference, and in the context of a growing economy, we will unite in pursuit of the goal of fair, proper and appropriate pay for every nurse and midwife in this country. This must reflect their role, their responsibility and the international labour market in other countries so that we can attract, retain and reward nurses and midwives here in Ireland,” he said.