Union: HSE forcing nurses to take ‘de facto’ 15% pay cut

Young nurses whose two-year contracts come to an end may be forced to accept a de facto 15% pay cut if they want “to continue in employment”.

The situation — which has been referred to the Labour Relations Commission over claims it breaches the Haddington Road Agreement — was revealed yesterday by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).

According to an internal HSE management memo obtained by the union, the service is attempting to push new nurses into accepting “graduate” deals in a bid to save money.

Currently, graduate contracts — which pay 85% of normal salaries in the first year and 90% in the second year — are only provided to nurses who have recently entered the workforce.

The deals were meant to be used only to replace expensive agency workers and overtime issues. However, according to the memo, the system could now be extended to nurses who already have two-year contracts due to budget problems.

Speaking yesterday on RTÉ radio, INMO deputy general secretary Dave Hughes said the situation is a “strong arm” tactic designed to cut costs, and breaches the recently signed Haddington Road Agreement.

Barry O’Brien, HSE human resources director, said the situation will exist for nurses “whose contracts expire and they wish to continue in employment”, but denied the medics are being forced into accepting the cut-price deals.

However, he admitted nurses who currently have one or two-year unapproved contracts and are replacing overtime and agency staff will be employed through the graduate scheme.

In a statement, a HSE spok-eswoman said the health service has “recently approved the recruitment of 1,000 graduate nurses consistent with the Had-dington Road Agreement”.

She said this is taking place to help 1,650 nurses who “will shortly graduate and will be available for these places”.

“In the first instance management are required to reduce their agency and overtime costs and this programme offers the ideal opportunity to contribute to the overall savings target for health, as set out in Haddington Road,” said the spokesperson.

The issue of cut-price “graduate” contracts has proven contentious since it was revealed by this newspaper last November.