1. Overtime rate improvements
Take-home pay from any overtime work will be improving from July 1st as part of the ongoing implementation of the Building Momentum agreement. Overtime rates were cut in 2013 during the financial crisis, but the old rates are now being restored, with effect from 1st July 2021.
Weekday overtime between the start of day duty and midnight are currently paid at either a time and a quarter, or time and a half based on a lower increment. This will now change to be time and a half, at your full increment.
The same change will apply to the first four hours of Saturday overtime. For many members, this will be roughly a 20% increase in overtime pay rates.
All overtime which is double pay (such as weekday overtime after midnight) will remain at this level.
2. Working week reduction
Another core piece of the Building Momentum agreement was to revert to the pre-Haddington Road hours of 37.5 per week (from the current 39). A special independent body was set up to make recommendations on how to best make this reduction. The INMO and other trade unions as part of a ICTU group of public service unions have made both written and oral submissions to this body this week.
The group will revert to us with any follow-up questions and there will be a requirement for further engagement. They are due to finalise and report before the end of this year. I will keep you informed of any progress on this issue, which is a high priority for INMO members.
3. Pressure on emergency departments
Following recent meetings with the INMO’s Emergency Department section on the worsening situation with high volume attendance at ED and as we are advised the pressure on hospitals is likely to increase I have written to the HSE’s Chief Clinical Officer today seeking urgent action on:
- improved security measures in EDs and wards
- a separate mental health pathway for patients
- national inspections in overcrowded hospitals
- warnings for patients of the infection risks in overcrowded areas.
We have also requested real health and safety improvements for staff and will be meeting the head of the acute Hospital division on Tuesday next, in respect of the constant pressures on members working throughout this pandemic. We will advise you of the outcome of that meeting. .
4. Vaccine mixing – new evidence
New empirical research in the Lancet this week found that mixing vaccine doses has the potential to improve immunity for AstraZeneca recipients.
In this second phase of a clinical trial which used the Pfizer vaccine as a second dose in individuals vaccinated with AstraZeneca as their first dose, the results showed a robust immune response with low adverse reactions or reactogenicity.
The research identified that the response fourteen days after the booster vaccine provides support for the effectiveness of the heterologous approach. According to the Lancet, this has the potential to speed up vaccination campaigns around the world.
5. National Economic Dialogue
The INMO, trade unions and other social partners met with the government this week as part of the National Economic Dialogue. This forum is another way for us to input into the coming budget. Our key ask was to ensure that health sector spending is set at such a level that we can provide safe care for patients and decent working conditions for staff.