Limerick hospital staff say rising living costs make Government pay offer inadequate
University Hospital Limerick on Wednesday as public sector workers take part in the nationwide strike. Picture: Niamh Griffin
The roundabout outside University Hospital Limerick was ringed with colourful placards on Wednesday as healthcare workers protested for a better pay deal, while car horns sounded in support from passing motorists.
Eugene Taffe, a porter and SIPTU representative, said workers’ wages had been eroded by inflation.
“We’ve seen our wages eroded over the last number of years due to inflation,” he said.
With food inflation having reached 14%, he said, “the current offer amounts to something like 2.5%. I was never good at maths at school but that doesn’t add up.”
Transport costs were also challenging on current salaries. “There’s a lot people might have an hour of a commute here every day,” he said.
In other cases, he said, “There’s staff here travelling across two counties even to get here.”
The cost of accommodation made living in Limerick impossible for many, he added.
“People out here today are no fools and we’re feeling a bit forgotten by the government, we’ve no belief they are taking this particularly seriously,” he said.
SIPTU members taking part in the protest included catering staff, healthcare assistants, laundry staff and others. Mr Taffe described last week’s budget as “very bad” for these workers.
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On the other side of the entrance, members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) were also protesting.
Gary Savage, a clinical nurse manager and INMO representative, said financial concerns had become increasingly prominent among staff.
“I’ve been in intensive care in this hospital for 25 years and I’ve never known staff to talk about money so much because it’s such an issue for them,” he said.
He said rent was “nearly impossible” for nurses, adding: “they’re having to live further and further away and then paying more and more for petrol to get into work. It’s a vicious circle.”
He said: “We’re employed by the government and we’re looking for the pay rise that we think that matches the cost of inflation anyway.”
Nurses were rostered to cover work on Wednesday.
“There are staff here working 12 and 13 hour shifts and getting one break. They’re entitled to more but it’s far too busy to take it,” he said.
“I’d like (the government) to tell us what efficiencies we can make.” Elaine Walsh, a theatre staff nurse and INMO representative, also joined the protest.
“There’s some nurses working on a ward where they might be down two nurses and they’re doing the job of two or three nurses,” she said.
She said overtime was not enough to address the financial pressures facing nurses.
“Nurses are being offered overtime but it’s not bridging the gap at all between the cost of living and their wages.” She added: “we don’t want to be on strike, I’d much rather be inside but we have no other choice. We aren’t being listened to and we’d appreciate if the government got into talks with the union.”
On the far side of the road, Fórsa members also walked up and down as part of the protest.
Narangin Srinivasan, health and welfare branch officer for Limerick, described the Government’s current pay offer as “not meaningful” in light of inflation.
“In all honesty if we agree to this pay deal we are going to take a pay cut actually,” he said. “We don’t have anything for the rest of this year and going into 2027 we are taking a pay cut.” Those taking part alongside him included clerical workers and managers, as well as therapists and other health and social care professionals.
“We need a better deal, a fair deal that takes account of the cost of living for hundreds of our members who are struggling to pay the bills,” he said.
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