The ballot for industrial action in response to the delays and non-filling of nursing and midwifery posts has commenced. The INMO is organising workplace and regional meetings to give you all the information you need before you vote. Here you will find some sample questions and answers to help nurse/midwife representatives during the balloting period- it also sets out how nurses /midwives who want to join can do so and why it is important now.

As you are aware the INMO, and the other Unions have been objecting to the employment control process currently in place, referred to by the HSE as “Pay & Numbers Strategy”. As a result of this Pay & Numbers Strategy posts within the services which you work are not being filled or replaced.  In addition, the number of staff within your Departments and Units is being further reduced by the number of vacancies that existed but were not occupied within the HSE at the end of December 2023...

As you are aware the HSE has now imposed strict curtailments in respect of recruitment and the filling of posts. They have also issued instructions to the HSE regions that the posts not physically occupied in December 2023 can no longer be considered vacant positions and are cut. No consultation has taken place with healthcare unions on this. When this announcement was made in July all unions objected and raised the issue as a disputed plan, yet there has been no change to the HSE's position despite all health sector unions opposing this and raising concerns for staff safety and by extension ability to provide safe care to patients...