Nurses and midwives are prepared to make changes in work practices aimed at contributing “a fair and reasonable share” of the €300million in public service cuts being sought by Government, according to Irish Nurses and Midwives general secretary Liam Doran.
However Mr Doran said the key question to be addressed in talks at the Labour Relations Commission is “what is a fair and reasonable share”.
Speaking in advance of the opening of the INMO conference in Donegal this morning Mr Doran repeated comments by ICTU general secretary David Begg that the unilateral imposition of wage cuts by Government, would be a “regrettable” and “a provocative” step.
Mr Doran said the INMO and members of the the Irish Medical Organisation would be speaking with one voice when they meet Government representatives in the extended talks at the Labour Relations Commission. He said the workers were prepared and even had “an obligation” to identify changes in work practices which would result in cost savings.
For example he said the practise of hiring agency nurses had cost the HSE €86million last year and staff nursing costs could be 30 percent cheaper than that.
In discussions with Government the INMO expects the first step will be to identify “what is X” where X equals a fair and reasonable contribution to the overall public sector savings demanded by Government.
But Mr Doran warned the Government to remember that some 14 unions had rejected the Croke Park deal and there was a “very difficult situation fraught with the potential for industrial action”.
When asked if strike action was on the INMO’s agenda Mr Doran said it depended on what was being asked of them. “If we are being asked to carry 60 percent of the weight when we represent just 30 to 40 percent of the load” then industrial action would be considered, he said.
“It depends on what is identified as X at the forthcoming talks”, he said.
