Nurses and administration staff at the Bon Secours private hospital group are to strike as a row over pay cuts spread today.
Employees voted overwhelmingly for walk-outs at the specialist centres in Dublin, Galway, Tralee and Cork on February 8th.
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 5 per cent.
INMO director of industrial relations Phil Ni Sheaghdha claimed the pay cuts were unnecessary as 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 INMO claimed management at the Bons Secours told staff before Christmas pay cuts were to come into effect on January 1st.
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.”
Bon Secours said the pay cuts were necessary following a drop in income from private health insurers. The group also said it had traditionally matched Department of Health wage structures but was not introducing as severe salary reductions as seen in the public sector.
“By pursuing a range of cost cutting measures in other areas, the organisation has endeavoured to minimise the impact on staff salaries,” it said in a statement. “These cost-containment measures are essential in ensuring the continuity of full service within our hospitals in what is a very difficult environment for everyone.”
The Mater Private in Dublin is facing similar strike threats from the INMO and Siptu over pay cuts.