Student officer Dara Ann O’Malley urges members to attend local information seminars on the extension to the Croke Park agreement

The campaign of resistance to the graduate jobs initiative remains strong despite the passage of time. In February,the graduate jobs initiative was opened to graduates from midwifery, mental health and intellectual disability. The INMO is confident that these graduates boycotted applying for the programme like their general nursing colleagues.

Nursing and midwifery graduates should be incredibly proud that they were able to orchestrate a boycott of exploitative graduate jobs, in the middle of a recession, during a period of high unemployment. This show of solidarity was amazing and works to protect the future of nursing and midwifery in Ireland.

The INMO has formally referred the graduate jobs initiative issue to the Labour Relations Commission (LRC). When a date for the LRC hearing is confirmed the Organisation will be looking for student and graduate representatives to attend.

The INMO has printed ‘80% No Way’ stickers which students, graduates and other INMO members can wear on their uniforms to keep the campaign in the minds of the public and hospital management. These stickers are being circulated around local hospitals.

The graduate jobs initiative issue was raised at all preliminary Croke Park extension talks, but the government was not going to alter its position in relation to premiums, and insisted that the ‘graduate nurse’ proposal would not be altered. On February 24, the INMO walked out of Croke Park extension talks as it became apparent that the government was trying to reduce the income of shift workers, who are already on modest incomes.

The government has proposed increasing the current working week from 37.5 to 39 hours a week. It also wants to reduce Sunday premium pay from double time to time and three-quarters, and abolish twilight payment for work between the hours of 6pm and 8pm. This would equate to an average salary reduction of 11.4% for all shift workers.

The INMO, IMO, CPSU, Unite and the 24/7 Frontline Services Alliance have organised a nationwide campaign to advise the collective membership to vote no to the proposals on the extension to the Croke Park agreement.

Attendees at the 24/7 Frontline Service Alliance rally in the Basketball Arena in Tallaght in February

A series of information meetings have been organised in towns and cities nationwide, which will include a briefing on the details of the proposals, the reasons why these proposals should be rejected, and audience question and answer sessions. The specific details of these meetings are available on the INMO website, www.inmo.ie

I would strongly encourage students and graduates to attend these seminars to learn of the proposed changes that the government is trying to introduce, as any changes to the Croke Park agreement will affect future terms and working conditions.

Preceptor of the Year award
Nominations for the ‘Preceptor of the Year’ award are coming in thick and fast. Students can make nominations online or via email using the form on the INMO website before April 12.

The winner will be invited, with a guest, to the annual awards dinner, which will take place during the annual delegate conference in Letterkenny in May, to receive their award. The winner will also receive a €1,000 cash prize, which is sponsored by Cornmarket.

The member who nominated the chosen preceptor will also be invited to the awards dinner, along with a colleague. For more information, please email: daraann@inmo.ie

Flora Women’s Mini Marathon
An INMO group will take part in the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon, on June 3, to raise money for the Alzheimer Society of Ireland. The closing date for applications is April 24.

Participating INMO members will receive an INMO T-shirt and a sponsorship card in the post. They will also be invited to a ‘cool down party’ after the race in the The Lost Society on South William Street. Members can sign up for the INMO marathon group at www.alzheimer.ie

Meanwhile, individual entries can be made on the marathon’s official website at www.florawomensminimarathon.ie

Student focus - Graduates remain strong