Nurses threaten strike over pay

NURSES at hospitals around the country have threatened to go on strike in a dispute over on-call pay rates and staffing levels.

All-night on-call pay rates at many of the country's top hospitals wouldn't even finance a childminder for a couple of hours, nurses say. And numerous audits have shown that more and more hospitals are under-staffed.

Yet little is happening to improve the lot of nurses and support is brewing for a series of one-day stoppages in hospitals around the country, says the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO).

Elective surgery was cancelled at a busy Dublin hospital yesterday in the latest action. Nurses at James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown, have been on a work-to-rule for five months.

Yesterday, 28 staff walked off their wards to protest outside the hospital from 8am to 2pm. All nurses will be back at work today and full emergency cover is provided, but they will be protesting during the same hours again tomorrow.

At James Connolly Memorial nurses are paid €17 for being on call for theatre, as well as €35 per case while on call. Cases can last anything from 20 minutes to an entire night but typically last about two hours. The INO wants the on-call rate increased to between €60 and €65.

Industrial relations officer Mary Fogarty was at the protest yesterday. "The impact on family, personal and social dimensions of life secondary to the commitment necessary to sustain this service is not reflected in the current payment. Increased rates are essential," she said.

Nurses at the hospital are not sure what they will do if their claim is not addressed by Thursday. But the officer said if the matter is not resolved, she will consult with her colleagues elsewhere, with a view to beginning rolling withdrawals of action.

Disputes continue at other units around the country. Patience is running thin among INO members in St Mary's, Drumcar, Co Louth.

They've threatened to begin industrial action shortly if the St John of God Order continue to ignore their obligations as employers to provide a safe working environment for nurses.

Last June INO members deferred industrial action on foot of Labour Relation Court proposals aimed at commissioning and implementation of a staffing review.

This review now recommends 94 additional nursing staff.

Yet little happened since, INO industrial relations officer, Patsy Doyle said. "We are incensed that the Order continues to stand back. We believe the Department of Health and St John of Gods have a responsibility to provide humane care in a humane environment with safe staffing levels."