‘The patients will not be neglected during this strike’

“YOU deserve everything you are looking for,” union leader Liam Doran told nurses outside Dublin’s St Vincent’s University Hospital yesterday.

At 11am, the nurses left their assembly area at the hospital complex and set off to hear their leaders give rousing speeches from a platform fronting the busy Merrion Road.

Passersby honked and hooted in obvious support. A short time earlier, two women complained about the situation as they crossed to the hospital complex.

“It’s a disgrace; it shouldn’t be allowed to happen to all these poor patients,” the two agreed.

It was not clear whether they blamed the nurses or the Government.

Fionnuala McCusker, a nurse in St Vincent’s, declared to waiting journalists: “We are just looking for parity with our other colleagues. We actually feel very strongly about this.

“Even though there’s a lot of us out on strike today we have left the wards very safe. There are the correct number of nurses there to look after the patients. The patients won’t be neglected during this strike.

“For our own self-esteem it is very important that we follow this through; when we had this strike all those years ago we really didn’t get anywhere. We have to stand firm this time, and we are very positive about it.”

Ms McCusker said there was no deficit of care in the wards.

Nurse Erlinda Lumayog, who came from the Philippines to work in this country six years ago, defended the nurses’ case.

“Of course, I agree with the people here. The standard of living in this country is very high so I think the money they are asking for is just to keep their family.”

Mr Doran told journalists: “The manner in which our members have supported us here today must tell people that our members are absolutely committed to this campaign.”

He added: “Over the weekend, we will be announcing further stoppages for next week — if there isn’t an engagement in a meaningful way to address these issues.”

Mr Doran said the 35-hour working week issue was outstanding for 27 years. And the nurses’ pay anomaly was outstanding for six years, he added.

The INO wanted “meaningful negotiations” as to how and when they were going to get a 35-hour week for nurses and midwives.

Mr Doran said they wanted “a date for a 35-hour week and a method to progress this pay anomaly — on an interim basis, if necessary.”