The Psychiatric Nurses’ Association has become the latest union to reject calls by Government ministers for increased productivity in return for pay increases.
PNA general secretary Des Kavanagh said his members wanted forthcoming talks between Government and unions to result in a reinstatement of previous pay levels without any strings attached.
Rejecting Minister for Health Leo Varadkar’s calls for unions to offer more productivity in the health service in return for pay increases, Mr Kavanagh told his annual conference front-line nurses have been giving more and more productivity for years and were “worked to the bone”.
“All of the monies stolen from us had their basis in productivity conceded. We want those monies restored, unfettered. We are not in the business of paying twice for the same benefit.”
Nevertheless the journey to full restoration must be commenced with meaningful initial repayment accompanied by a roadmap to full restoration.
After years of declining nurse numbers, there was now a realisation that staffing cuts had gone too far and recruitment was badly needed to respond to the needs of a growing population, he said.
To encourage Irish nurses to return to work in the HSE, they should be offered free flights home and relocation grants, he said.
Nurses abroad should be offered interview by Skype or conference call and families and friends of nurses abroad should be used as points of contact to attract applications for vacant positions.
Mr Kavanagh described the revelations earlier this year of the abuse of residents at the Aras Attracta home in Co Mayo as extraordinary and deeply shocking.
He said the PNA had had serious concerns about poor management, the closure of bungalows and staff shortages long before the revelations in a television documentary.
“But management, who would not listen to our members, inculcated a culture which facilitated the growth of behaviours which were eventually shown on Prime Time.”
