Public Sector Pay Proposals – Update on Ballot

At their meeting on Wednesday, your Executive Council considered the pay deal for public sector employees. To this end they have decided to recommend that members accept the deal that was brokered between public sector unions and representatives from the Department of Public Expenditure. 

An in-person ballot will commence on September 12th alongside an information campaign. The ballot will close on October 5th, 2022. 

As advised in a Notice to Members earlier this week, including what was already agreed under the current provisions of Building Momentum, the following increases would be provided for under the proposed package:
2nd February 2022: 3% increase on base salary to be back paid
1st October 2022:  1% increase or €500, whichever is more financially beneficial
1st March 2023: 2% increase
1st October 2023: 1.5% increase or €750, whichever is more financially beneficial
 
These percentage increases will also apply to allowances in the nature of pay.

As previously advised to you, the INMO held firm that nurse managers should be paid what they are owed since February 2022, and it was agreed that the circular to increase nurse managers’ pay by 3.28% will issue immediately. This pay increase for nurse managers will be back paid to 1st February 2022. This is in addition to the above increases.

It is expected that there will be further cost-of-living supports as part of Budget 2023. 

Full information meetings will be held in your region, and we are currently in the process of organising them, and notification of these meetings will be issued next week. We are also preparing information grade by grade setting out what these increases will mean for you. Please ensure to inform yourself and have your say. 

 
NMBI Elections
 
We would like to remind you that the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland are holding elections to fill the Care of the Older Person, RNID and PHN seats for the next five years.
 
You may have already received, directly from NMBI, to your address on record with NMBI, details of the election, how to vote and, most importantly, your personal electoral PIN number which must be used when you cast your votes, online, between 13th September and 21st September 2022.
 
INMO Endorsed Candidates
 
On behalf of the Executive Council, all members are being asked to support the INMO endorsed candidates, in the election, who are as follows:
 
Ø  DONNA HYLAND – CARE OF THE OLDER PERSON SEAT;
Ø  MARY ROSE LOUGHNANE – RNID SEAT and
Ø  MARY LEAHY - PHN SEAT.
 
In the latest edition of the World of Irish Nursing and Midwifery you can read further details, about our three excellent candidates, and, in addition, you can read more on our website www.inmo.ie.
 
 Pandemic Bonus Update

At this stage, the HSE have paid the €1000 Pandemic Bonus to the vast majority of HSE and Section 38 employees. We understand that student nurses in several sites have yet to be paid and we are continuing to advocate for their payments to be issued. 

The Department of Health have advised that they will be using a financial services firm to administer payments to agency workers, section 39 employees and those who worked in private nursing homes. The INMO is of the view that any further delay to this payment is unacceptable and must be administered swiftly. 

Furthermore, proposals from the Dept of Health have not addressed the issue of Private Hospitals and GP Practices.  We are continuing to press for these matters to be dealt with outside of this process through the industrial mechanisms of the State.