After this weeks INMO strike, the government are apparently considering imposing sanctions and financial penalties on nurses who went on strike.
Nurses and Midwives from all around the country took to the streets on Wednesday to protest working conditions and insufficient pay. The nurses have received an over-whelming amount of support from the public, but it seems the Government are struggling to find a solution to the issue, with Leo Varadkar saying that they can not give nurses a pay rise without other public services demanding pay increases – an issue which Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe dubbed ‘leap-frogging’.
It has now been announced that the 37,000 nurses and midwives who went out on strike Wednesday to Thursday morning may face pay penalties, according to Health minister, Simon Harris.
Speaking to KFM, Simon Harris said that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will legally consider whether they can impose sanctions on those who were involved in the strikes on Wednesday.
With this legal action the Government could impose restrictions such as a pay increase freeze and other penalties.
Under legislation brought in last year, members of unions who breach the public service pay agreement by striking can face these penalties.
There are planned strikes for other days in February to continue the protest, but they may be affected if the wages of already underpaid nurses will be cut.
Simon Harris has said he is considering all options.
Nurses And Midwives Strike Going Ahead This Morning
