INMO Opposes Any Further Pay Cuts

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.

The Executive Council also concluded that the current approach of the government, through its officials, is provocative, unrealistic and primarily targeted at the income of frontline public servants who have a 24/7 roster. The INMO therefore shares the concerns of the Garda organisations that the current management agenda is concentrated on cutting the pay of frontline staff.

The Executive Council will meet again, following the next engagement with management, and it will then decide with regard to its continued participation in the process. This offers the management side the opportunity to demonstrate a more realistic approach to the process.

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.

"Our Executive Council has also directed that talks, with other unions who have members working in the frontline, should now focus on drawing up whatever action plan is required to realise the shared objective of protecting the income of members, in the frontline, right across 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. If it continues with the current approach, of disproportionately attacking frontline staff and seeking to dismantle other fundamental conditions of employment, then this process cannot succeed.

"Our Executive Council has decided to meet again, at short notice, to determine whether this process has any chance of achieving an outcome, which would be acceptable to members, or whether the official side wishes to continue with its provocative, unrealistic and dictatorial approach which is doomed to fail.

"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."

(CD/GK)