More than 1,000 nurses attended a rally in Dublin yesterday to protest over pay and conditions.
The nurses, members of the Irish Nurses Organisation and the Psychiatric Nurses Association, want pay rises and a shorter working week. They also want a special allowance for nurses in Dublin. Their claims are due to be heard by the Labour Court next Tuesday.
Addressing the rally at the Helix, INO president Madeline Spiers said nurses were exhausted and demoralised and would not accept a rejection of their claim.Minister for Health Mary Harney, however, had been saying the nurses' claim amounts to €1.5 billion and was "not affordable" and "will not be paid".
Dave Hughes, the INO's deputy general secretary, said the protests would escalate in the absence of a satisfactory Government response.
"The bottom line is that 40,000 nurses and midwives cannot be ignored," he said.
Nurses work 39 hours a week but they say that most other health service grades work just 35 hours a week.