Madam, - It saddens me to hear uninformed opinion to the effect that the nurses' claim smacks of greed, and that we should go back to our secure jobs and shut up. We are only asking for the terms and conditions enjoyed by allied health professionals working alongside us. What's wrong with that?
The threat to deduct 13 per cent of nurses' salaries is underhand and unjust. Many staff nurses have no computer to use and rarely use a phone; their managers do most of that. There is no chance that a staff nurse's productivity fell by 13 per cent owing to this work to rule. It's more likely to be 2 per cent. And what's wrong with the patient getting this time instead? This is nursing at its best, providing uninterrupted care to the patient.
Do Mary Harney and Brendan Drumm expect us to continue to work for them when they deal with us with such contempt? They are using strategies such as intimidation and bullying to get us to toe the line. Is this an appropriate management strategy? Are we going to want to continue working for these people? Is it likely to win us over? Would it win you over? Is it a good recruitment and retention strategy? I think not! - Yours, etc,
A ROTHWELL, Hawkfield, Newbridge, Co Kildare.