INMO Escalates Nurses And Midwives' Strike

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has announced an escalation of its current programme of industrial action due to the "government's refusal to engage with the union".

As the organisation fights for greater pay and working conditions, strike days will take place on 19 and 21 February, as well as the pre-planned dates of 05, 07 and 12-14 of this month.

A national rally will also take places Saturday 09 February.

In a statement, INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: "Nurses and midwives proudly stood up in defence of our patients and professions last Wednesday, but the government has responded with threats and intransigence.

"Everybody – except the government – recognise that there is a serious understaffing problem in our health services. The public support for the strike on Wednesday showed that the Irish people stand with nurses and midwives.

"Our message is clear. We will not be going away – resolving this dispute requires direct engagement from the government, recognising the real recruitment and retention problems in Irish nursing and midwifery.

"We simply want to be able to do our jobs, but our health service cannot hire enough nurses and midwives on these uncompetitive wages.

"As ever, we remain available for talks with the government for any realistic proposals."

The first nurses' strike day in the last two decades took place on Wednesday 30 January.



(JG/CM)