Talks for a new contract for nurses and midwives have been referred to the Labour Court.
This will allow the Court to examine the disputed clauses of the new draft contract. The employers have also indicated that they will attend.
The INMO and employers have been deadlocked in negotiations for a new contract which was to accompany a higher payscale – part of a proposed resolution to the nurse's and midwives’ strike.
The INMO has rejected government draft contracts as “onerous” and “unreasonable”.
Balloting had been due to start today, but the elected INMO Executive Council have decided to postpone the start of balloting by two weeks, in line with their previous decision that members would not be balloted without a satisfactory contract.
The INMO’s Executive Council will meet again on March 20th.
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said:
We are deeply disappointed with the government’s attempt to stretch the limits set by the Labour Court in these contract talks.
Government insistence on unreasonable contract terms would put nurses and midwives in some of the most insecure jobs in Ireland, allowing unilateral changes to work locations and hours. We will not allow this.
The government’s contract proposals are unacceptable to us and would only worsen the recruitment and retention problems.
We believe that the government’s proposed contract goes far beyond the Labour Court recommendation and will be making this case firmly to the Court on behalf of our members.
Our constant focus is to improve conditions for our members and deliver safe patient care. We will continue to exhaust all avenues to achieve this aim.
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