Nurses expected to back moves for ballot on industrial action if Government cuts pay

Nurses and midwives are today expected to vote in favour of balloting for strike action if the Government moves to impose pay cuts.

The annual conference of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) will debate an emergency motion calling for a nationwide ballot for industrial action up to and including withdrawal of labour if the Government imposes cuts in pay or reductions in terms and conditions of employment.

The motion says that any such industrial action would form part of a wider campaign across the public service against Government pay cuts.

INMO members last month voted by more than 95 per cent against the proposed Croke Park II agreement.

Deadline
The Government has set a deadline of next Monday for the chief executive of the Labour Relations Commission Kieran Mulvey to report back to the Cabinet on whether he believes a negotiated agreement is possible on its plans to reduce the State's pay and pensions bill by €1 billion over three years.

If no negotiated agreement is possible, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin is expected to bring recommendations to the Cabinet on Tuesday.

This could involve reaching agreements with individual unions or groups of unions in particular sectors that would then continue to receive the protections and guarantees set out under the Croke Park agreement.

Pay cuts
The implications of such a stance would be that other groups could face pay cuts, the freezing of increments and reductions in premium payments.

The INMO said it would “respond positively” with regard to any further engagement with the Labour Relations Commission for the purposes of finding payroll savings.

The Irish Times reported last week that the INMO and the Irish Medical Organisation had made a joint proposal for cost-saving to Mr Mulvey which they maintained would remove the need for any cuts in earnings or the introduction of a longer working week.

The plan effectively involved nurses taking over some roles, such as blood services, which are currently carried out by non-consultant hospital doctors.

INMO general secretary Liam Doran said any reforms had to be proportionate.