THE ORGANISATION THAT represents nurses and midwives has reiterated its total opposition to pay cuts under the Croke Park extension.
The Executive Council of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), following a review of the Croke Park extension talks, has reaffirmed its commitment to protect the current income of its members from further cuts.
Government
In a statement, the Executive Council described the current approach of the government, through its officials, as “provocative, unrealistic and primarily targeted at the income of frontline public servants who have a 24/7 roster”.
The INMO said it shares the concerns of the Garda organisations that the current management agenda “is concentrated on cutting the pay of frontline staff”.
The Executive Council is due to meet soon to decide what will happen with its future participation in the process.
Speaking after yesterday’s meeting, INMO General Secretary Liam Doran said:
The INMO fully supports the stance taken by the Garda representative bodies with regard to the totally unrealistic and provocative list of demands tabled by the management side. There can be no agreement acceptable to the INMO which seeks to impose cuts or reductions in existing pay rates, premium pay rates and allowances which form the total income of members arising from their obligation to work 24/7, 365 days a year.
The Executive Council has also directed that talks with other unions who have members working in the frontline should focus on drawing up whatever action plan is required to realise the shared objective of protecting the income of members in the frontline of the public service.
“In the interim the government, through its officials, must radically alter its agenda for the process to demonstrate it is serious about reaching an agreement,” said Doran. He said that if it continues with the current approach then this process cannot succeed.
The simple reality is that most public servants cannot suffer any further loss to their income and still meet their obligations and pay their bills.
The Executive Committee of the 24/7 Frontline Services Alliance will meet today to consider a strategy which would be activated immediately if government continues to seek cuts in basic pay, premiums or allowances.
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