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SIPTU writes to Minister over implementation of revolving door policy at Central Mental Hospital
26.06.2009SIPTU National Nursing Official Louise O’Reilly has written to John Moloney, Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, seeking an urgent meeting over the continuing accommodation crisis at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum, Dublin. She said that the Department is now operating a revolving door policy to try and mask what is in effect a closed door system at the state’s only forensic facility.
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SIPTU to meet HSE chief on recruitment embargo on Wednesday
06.04.2009“The most recent health cutback announcement, including a moratorium on recruitment by the HSE has been greeted with disbelief by SIPTU members working in the health service”, the union’s National Nursing Official Louise O’Reilly said today. “It now appears that the Department of Finance is running the Heath Service. This cannot be good for patients or for staff.”
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SIPTU’s National Nursing Official writes to Mary Harney about adverse effects 16.5 per cent cut in student nurse training places will have on services
28.10.2008SIPTU’s National Nursing Official, Louise O’Reilly, has written to the Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney, warning her of ‘the anger and dismay’ of Union members at the proposed cuts in nurse education. They were once again being ‘confronted by the failure of this Government and your Department in particular to plan for the future of the Irish health service.
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SIPTU Psychiatric Nurses to consider new proposals to resolve their dispute on Friday
14.05.2008SIPTU and the Psychiatric Nurses Association received new proposals from the Labour Relations Commission late this evening to resolve their two week old dispute. SIPTU Nursing Official Louise O’Reilly said the proposals represented “significant progress”.
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Settlement proposals to psychiatric nurses dispute hammered out in two days of talks at LRC
10.05.2008The Psychiatric Nurses Association and SIPTU have hammered out a framework proposal with the HSE to conclude negotiations on a new compensation scheme for nurses injured as the result of assaults at work. The proposal was hammered out in two days of intensive negotiations with the HSE at the Labour Relations Commission.
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Unions representing psychiatric nurses to attend talks with the HSE at Labour Relations Commission tomorrow
09.05.2008The two unions representing psychiatric nurses, the PNA and SIPTU, have accepted an invitation to talks at the Labour Relations Commission tomorrow to discuss the dispute with the HSE, which is over compensation for nurses injured as the result of assaults at work.
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Psychiatric Nurses to escalate dispute from Monday
06.05.2008The two unions representing psychiatric nurses, the PNA and SIPTU, have given the HSE notice that action by their members will escalate from Monday if no progress is made in resolving the dispute over compensation for staff injured in assaults at work. The unions are planning to withdraw co-operation in the redeployment of nurses from community based services to psychiatric and general hospitals. All Dublin’s major acute hospitals, except Beaumont, will be among the facilities affected.
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Action by Nursing Unions highlights HSE mismanagement over long number of years says SIPTU
05.05.2008SIPTU National Nursing Official Louise O’Reilly says her Union and the PNA are likely to escalate their dispute when the joint strike committee meets tomorrow. The dispute is over the lack of a decent compensation scheme for members injured as the result of assaults at work.
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Threat to mental health services
25.04.2008Members of SIPTU and the PNA have rejected the compensation package on offer for nurses working in the mental health services who are injured as a result of an assault at work. Both unions have balloted their members and the vote in favour of taking action to secure improvements in the scheme were overwhelming.
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HSE breached terms of Towards 2016 - Labour Court
28.02.2008In a recommendation issued on February 24, the Labour Court said the way in which the Health Service Executive introduced its recruitment embargo was in breach of the terms of Towards 2016.
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Nurses compensation scheme must recognise psychological injury
22.01.2008The compensation scheme for nurses - due to be published shortly - must recognise psychological injury/stress, according to SIPTU National Nursing Official, Louise O’Reilly. “The dangers facing health workers in the psychiatric services were graphically illustrated by the incident in St. Anne’s day-care centre in Limerick last week,” she said.
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Limerick incident highlights the dangers for mental health workers
18.01.2008The frightening attack on two staff members at the HSE-run St Anne's day care centre in Limerick highlights the dangers to which workers in the mental health service are exposed on a daily basis, according to SIPTU’s National Nursing Official, Louise O’Reilly.
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Delivery of healthcare under threat from new HSE control measures
17.01.2008The HSE’s latest attempt to control jobs within the health service has provoked outrage from SIPTU Nursing.
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Nurses undervalued by Benchmarking Report
10.01.2008Nurses have been undervalued in the second report of the Benchmarking Body, according to SIPTU’s National Nursing Official, Louise O’Reilly who has expressed grave disappointment with the zero percentage awards made to many nursing grades.
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Industrial action may be the only response to HSE recruitment ban
13.12.2007SIPTU’s Nursing Council is calling on the HSE to rescind its ban on recruitment with immediate effect. “At this stage we cannot rule out industrial action as the only response which will be listened to by the HSE,” warned SIPTU’s National Nursing Official, Louise O’Reilly. “They seem oblivious to the detrimental effect the ban is having on both staff and patients.”
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Health staff recruitment ban must end
09.11.2007The Health Service Executive (HSE) should end its recruitment freeze now and prioritise the welfare of patients and staff, according to SIPTU Nursing President, Padraig Heverin. “The ban on recruitment - which has been extended for another month - is having a severe detrimental effect on patient care and staff morale,” said Mr. Heverin.
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SIPTU Nursing backs NIB statement on talks
21.09.2007SIPTU’s National Nursing Council has welcomed the National implementation Body’s statement on the complaint from the Health Staff Panel that the HSE’s Financial Break-even Plan breached the terms of Towards 2016
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Statement from the National Implementation Body re issues raised by the Health Staff Panel
21.09.2007The NIB has considered a complaint from the Health Staff Panel (1) that the HSE Financial Break-even Plan promulgated on 3rd September last had been issued in breach of the terms of Towards 2016 specifically Sections 28.13, 30.2.1 and 30.2.2, (2) that the action taken was inconsistent with the EU Information and Consultation Directive, (3) that it was their understanding that implementation of the Plan was viewed by the HSE as requiring the suspension of all existing staffing and other operating agreements where necessary, (4) that the conduct of the HSE appeared to convey a policy of non-engagement with trade unions or compliance with the terms of Towards 2016 and other established industrial relations procedures, and (5) that, as a consequence, the basis of partnership in the health service, especially in pursuit of reform through the new Health Service Forum, was becoming unsustainable.
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Joint Union Response to HSE Recruitment Freeze
17.09.2007All unions representing health workers and affiliated to the ICTU were written to on September 14, 2007 to appraise them of the current situation with regard to the HSE's statement on a recruitment freeze.
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Hayes welcomes peace formula for nurses' dispute
16.05.2007SIPTU has welcomed the initiative from the National Implementation Body in the dispute involving the Irish Nurses Organisation, the Psychiatric Nurses Association and the Health Services Executive.
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Government should abandon hospital co-location plans
19.04.2007SIPTU General Secretary Joe O’Flynn has called on the Government to abandon its plans to give private developers tax breaks and public land to build hospitals on state health care campuses. Speaking at the union's Nursing Convention in Castlebar, he said that the “almost continuous attack” on public services by some politicians and media commentators was “part of the softening up process to sell off important parts of our hard won social and physical infrastructure at knock down prices to private operators.
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SIPTU campaigns for better deal for nurses
23.04.2007In order to correct various misunderstandings which have emerged in the media about SIPTU's role in the current campaign to improve the pay and conditions of nurses in the public health service, we wish to point out:
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National Implementation Body should intervene in nurses dispute now
22.04.2007Vice President, Brendan Hayes has once again called for the National Implementation Body to intervene in the nurses dispute to see if a resolution can be found.
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Unions win claim for compensation for psychological trauma
30.03.2007Both SIPTU and the Psychiatric Nurses’ Association (PNA) have welcomed a Labour Court Recommendation issued yesterday which upheld their claim that psychiatric nurses have an entitlement to be assessed – and if appropriate – compensated, for any psychological trauma following a workplace assaulted.
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Update on Talks on Pay and Conditions
SIPTU Vice President, Brendan Hayes, comments on the latest developments. Click here
Nurses' Pay and Working Hours Update
SIPTU has been calling for some time now (see press statements and radio interviews) for those charged with the management of industrial relations within this Sate to call the parties together to try to find a solution to the issues that have frustrated the nursing profession for several years. Finally last Friday, the National Implementation Body (NIB) intervened and invited all the parties involved to talks on Monday last.
SIPTU accepted the invitation and attended Government Buildings as scheduled. SIPTU outlined its view that the NIB process, that we had sought,was welcome and that these discussions represented a real opportunity to develop a means of addressing issues critical to the nursing profession if the parties had the capacity to seize the opportunity presented.
The initial talks have focused on two issues - namely the IntellectualDisability Anomaly and the claim for a reduced working week. The talks adjourned and were due to reconvene today. In the interim the INO/PNA published a newsletter that was unhelpful and damaging to the process. The newsletter contains errors of fact, half truths and misrepresentations that has the potential to undermine the talks and the progress that can be made.
To correct some of the errors in the newsletter and for the record we wish to advise our members that:
SIPTU has repeatedly called for talks to resolve the nurses dispute and, out of trade union solidarity, has consistently supported the INO/PNA in public debate on this issue. SIPTU is the only union that has supported the nurses in this way.
SIPTU's call for talks was finally answered last week when the NIBinvited the parties into Government Buildings this week to try to find a solution the issues confronting nurses. SIPTU was one of the unions invited to the talks along with IMPACT, the INO and the PNA. SIPTU accepted the invitation and has attended the talks and participated fully in the discussions.
SIPTU saw these talks as an opportunity to try to develop a solution to the issues of pay andworking hours that have dogged the nursing profession for several years. SIPTU considers that professional solidarity and the advancement ofnurses' pay and conditions of employment are more important than pettyinter-union rivalry and accordingly has tried to be supportive of the INO/PNA in these talks and in the lead-up to their dispute.
Comments in the INO/PNA newsletter that SIPTU "invited themselves" to the talks are untrue and those unions are aware of this. SIPTU has developed an independent approach on how the pay and conditions of the nursing profession can be progressed and will continue to do so in accordance with the wishes of its own members. SIPTU does not normally comment on the activities of other unions and will not become involved in a public dispute with the INO/PNA despite the provocative steps taken by them in their public attack on this Union, its members and the nursing profession. We believe such activities injure workers and undermine nurses in their struggle for improved pay and working hours. The INO/PNA circular has damaged the process and made progress more difficult if not impossible.
Nevertheless SIPTU will continue try to secure the maximum possible for the nursing profession over the next two weeks. In an effort to save the talks from collapse today SIPTU reserved its position to allow the weekend pass and to see what can be salvaged in the current situation. SIPTU is of the view that, having secured an opportunity to engage with management, the nursing unions have the potential - with judicious and balanced leadership in the talks currently underway at the NIB - to secure progress on our claims for a reduction in the working week and the Intellectual Disability anomaly.
To do so, however, we must resist the temptation to put petty organisational interests ahead of nurses' needs and just demands. SIPTU, having proposed the establishment of the Commission on Nursing as part of the solution to the 1999 Nurses Dispute, will now reflect on how it can again move the process forward in the interest of the nursing profession.
SIPTU will work with any organisation that is committed to advancing nurses' pay and terms and conditions of employment. Our members can rest assured that SIPTU will make every effort to secure the maximum progress possible for its nursing membership.
Brendan Hayes
Vice President SIPTU
Information for SIPTU Nursing members about the ongoing discussions at Government Buildings
Dear member
SIPTU has been calling for these talks for a number of weeks now. We welcome the involvement of the National Implementation Body and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in the process. SIPTU has always maintained that the only way to resolve these claims has been through dialogue. The National Implementation Body as a social partnership body under the auspices of Towards 2016 has invited all the parties into these talks with a view to seeking a resolution to this impasse.
As our members voted overwhelmingly in favour of Towards 2016 lasy year, SIPTU welcomes the establishment of National Health Forum which had its inaugural meeting on Tuesday, March 13, 2007. Be assured that within this and any other forum available to us, SIPTU will continue to press the case for a reduced working week for nurses as an essential response in any discussion on the modernisation of the health service. As the largest union in the health service, SIPTU will ensure that we use our influence in these high level discussions to the bast possible effect in pursuit of the aspirations of our nursing members.
In relation to these and any other talks, SIPTU will ensure that our nurses are vocally represented in this forum as we have done consistently in the benchmarking process and in the negotiations on Towards 2016.
We will, as we have always done, exploit any and all opportunities to further the interests of our members. We will not be excluded from or rule out any forum which we believe may be of use in the furtherance of our members’ claims.
Yours fraternally
Louise O'Reilly
National Nursing Unit
SIPTU leader calls on all involved in the nurses' dispute to enter talks immediately before services to patients are hit
19.02.2007SIPTU, the largest union in the Health Service and a member of the National Nursing Alliance today (Sunday, February 18) said that it supports the claims being made by the Psychiatric Nurses Association and Irish Nurses Organisation against the Health Service Executive. SIPTU has itself made similar claims on behalf of its nursing members to the Benchmarking Body.
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SIPTU welcomes compensation scheme for psychiatric nurses
18.01.2007Both SIPTU and the PNA welcomed the Government’s approval of the introduction of an injury compensation scheme for psychiatric nurses but warned that a number issues remain outstanding.
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A group of SIPTU nurses from Galway who participated in training with SIPTU and the LRC in November 2006
Psychiatric Nurses withdraw threat of industrial action
29.09.2006The threat of industrial action by psychiatric nurses next month has been withdrawn by SIPTU Nursing and the Psychiatric Nurses Association.
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SIPTU Benchmarking claim for improved pay and reduced hours for Nurses
16.10.2006“A significant improvement in pay and reduced hours is warranted in recognition of the increased professionalism of nursing within the health service,” declared SIPTU’s National Nursing Official, Miriam McCluskey.
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Taoiseach's comments about health service employees a 'cheap shot' - Merrigan
12.10.2006SIPTU's National Industrial Secretary, Matt Merrigan described the Taoiseach's negative comments about health service employees as a 'cheap shot.'
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Nursing unions serve notice of industrial action
16.09.2006SIPTU Nursing and the Psychiatric Nurses' Association have served three weeks’ notice of their intention to take industrial action over the failure of the authorities in the health service to provide a compensation scheme for psychiatric nurses assaulted at work in line with the recommendations of a joint employer-union task force.
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SIPTU Nurses begin consultation process in preparation for benchmarking
16.05.2006SIPTU Nursing has begun an extensive consultation process with its members throughout Ireland as part of its preparations for its submission to the Benchmarking Review Body.
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Getting a fair deal for nursing members a priority for SIPTU
28.03.2006SIPTU’s commitment to getting a fair deal for its nursing members - by whatever means is available - is a priority for the Union, said the President of SIPTU’s National Nursing Council, Mary Durkin.
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SIPTU nurses gear up for Benchmarking round two
16.03.2006SIPTU-Nursing will begin a consultation process involving all its members ahead of the next Benchmarking process. At the Union’s 2006 Nursing Convention in Sligo today, National Nursing Official Miriam McCluskey told delegates that a number of focus groups will be set up on a national bases and members will be given an opportunity to inform those groups of the key issues affecting nurses today.
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Reject portrayal of older people as being depressed
16.03.2006Speaking at the SIPTU-Nursing Convention Ms Meehan told the Union’s nursing delegates they should reject the idea that loneliness, isolation and depression are a common adjunct to being old – they are not. “They are merely the outcome of circumstances which do not cater for the needs of the older generation,” she said. “Clearly a minority of older people are in stark positions but there should be no stereotype that older people are lonely.
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Patients need visitors
19.01.2006The Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney is attempting to deflect from the seriousness of the crisis in our health services by suggesting that visitors should be restricted in an effort to reduce infection in the hospitals declared the President of SIPTU’s National Nursing Council, Mary Durkin.
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VHI increases unwelcome
11.08.2005The decision by the VHI to seek a 12.5% increase in premia from September represents a further unwelcome imposition on many workers in this country who have been forced to take out health insurance in order to overcome the waiting lists and delays that are the legacy of decades of under-investment in the public health service, according to SIPTU General Secretary, Joe O'Flynn.
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