Unions join forces in nurses’ pay protest

TWO nurses’ organisations have joined forces to reverse an “intolerable and insulting” situation where nurses and midwives are earning less than childcare workers.

Both the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) and the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) said it was ridiculous that after 21 years an honours degree-registered nurse and midwife would get the same pay as qualified and unqualified childcare workers.

They held a joint meeting in Dublin yesterday ahead of next month’s Labour Relations Commission Conciliation Conference to outline eight claims they have lodged with the Health Service Executive on behalf of the nurses and midwives.