SouthDoc and CareDoc nurses vote for industrial action over pay parity dispute
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Nurses working in SouthDoc and CareDoc have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action as pay parity with public service employees in identical roles has still not been granted.
This issue has far-reaching implications for the vital out-of-hours services SouthDoc and CareDoc provide, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said.
“It is completely unacceptable that no payments have been made to INMO members working in SouthDoc," INMO industrial relations officer Liam Conway said, speaking on behalf of SouthDoc members.
"Our members working in these services are close to a 20% pay gap by the end of the lifetime of the current public sector agreement.
"These strong views of members in SouthDoc and CareDoc show the importance of reaching an agreement with this employer in order avoid industrial action as we enter the winter months.”
Out of hours services prevent unnecessary admissions to emergency departments, Gráinne Walsh, INMO industrial relations officer Gráinne Walsh said, speaking on the CareDoc issue.
"This group of workers are essential and long deserve to have equal pay," Ms Walsh said.
Discussions took place between unions representing workers in the community and voluntary sector (Section 39, Section 56, Section 10, and Section 40 funded agencies) and representatives from various government departments.
"Despite well-publicised commitments given —with regard to pay parity for workers in the sector — the government representatives in attendance advised the unions they had no mandate to address the issue," a statement from unions Congress, Fórsa, Siptu, and the INMO said.
"We are calling on Government to honour its commitments by mandating its officials to negotiate in advance of the election."