|
Socialist
Party Leaflet
15th April 2007 |
INO Socialist Party says... * Nurses' demands completely justified Nurses have been waiting 27 years for the Government and the Health Authorities to respond to their demands and the industrial action is completely justified. A lot is at stake. The Government wants to lower wages and conditions in the public and private sectors. To concede significant concessions to the nurses could encourage other workers who have seen their wage decrease as inflation more than cancels out the ‘Towards 2016’ deal. The government hope to lean on the media and force nurses into negotiations so all action will be dropped until after the election. However, regardless of the attempts of the media, the overwhelming majority of the public support the nurses’ action. Negotiations now, without a significant shift in the government’s and the HSE’s position, would just serve to cut across the momentum of the nurse’s action, without the prospect of serious concessions. However, the nurses have the power to put the government and the HSE (Health Service Executive) under huge pressure to concede. Firstly, the INO and the PNA should link the government and HSE responsibility for the crisis in the health service to their unwillingness to invest in the frontline staff. Up until now, the unions have let the government and HSE off the hook on this. If this link were made, the nurses would get even greater public support and they would also see that the nurses are fighting on their behalf. Secondly, the action should be escalated. Nurses have the right to withdraw their labour and if that causes significant disruption to aspects of the health service that is the responsibility of the government and the HSE. By taking these two steps, the nurses could break the resolve of the government and force them to make concessions. The Socialist Party believes that action should be escalated, until there is a clear commitment to deal with the nurses’ concerns. Fight for the rights of student nurses Student nurses support the struggle of their colleagues. Student nurses are also angry and demand that they get payment for their 30 week unpaid placement, as well as allowances for food, travel and car parking. They carry out important duties during placement and the fact that they are not paid represents gross exploitation and is causing real hardship for many. The INO and the PNA should demand that entitlements and payment for student nurses be immediately forthcoming. Socialist Party says: * Invest to resolve the health crisis and invest in the frontline staff – the nurses |