Private hospital's staff to strike in pay dispute

Nurses and admin staff at a leading private hospital group are to strike as a row over pay cuts spread today.

Employees at Bon Secours voted overwhelmingly for walk-outs at the specialist centres in Dublin, Galway, Tralee and Cork next month.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and Siptu said members backed the strike after being hit with pay and allowance cuts of up to five per cent.

Phil Ni Sheaghdha, INMO director of Industrial Relations, claimed the hospital group was not losing money.

“These pay cuts are illegal and we will continue to seek their removal as we believe that they are not necessary considering the operating surplus of this company,” she said.

The Mater Private in Dublin is facing similar strike threats from the INMO and Siptu over pay cuts.

The INMO claimed management at the Bons Secours told staff before Christmas pay cuts were to come into affect on January 1.

“It is an example of the poor regard for loyal staff and a complete disregard for agreed industrial relations procedures and the legal requirements of consultation and negotiation,” she said.

Paul Bell, Siptu’s health representative, said: “Our members are not only suffering illegal and unilateral pay cuts but they have no security in relation to their pay into the future.”

The Bon Secours units will be hit by strike on February 8.