HEALTH WORKERS MAKE SUPERHUMAN SACRIFICES while government Ministers ‘dither’ about doing what’s necessary. And what’s that?: mandatory quarantine for all travellers from abroad, and no exemptions for big business breaking lockdown. I spoke on this in the Dáil yesterday and demanded that they listen to the people.
Two weeks ago, I raised the imminent deportation of two care workers. Yesterday Gary Gannon raised the same question, and the Taoiseach acted as though he knew nothing about it. The Taoiseach is playing pass the parcel with people’s lives. Health workers should not be deported!
How dare Varadkar try to bully the nurses over Brexit, as though the mess were their fault. And how dare the spin machine make out nurses are greedy. A staff nurse starts at €29k and it takes 15 years before getting to €45k. Some, but not all, of the points I made to the Taoiseach this afternoon. I call on all who can to get down to the picket nearest them tomorrow and stand with the nurses.
Bríd was interviewed by Joe McGrail for the Week in Politics, RTE 13.1.19. regarding the nurses strike, just before she and People Before Profit members went canvassing for support for the coming industrial action by PNA and INMO members.
The Minister says he must respect the Public Sector Pay Agreement and can’t support the nurses threatened strike for pay. But since that agreement was signed, rents have increased, childcare has increased, fuel has increased and nurses’ (and others) pay has stood still. We are 1,000 nurses short. Nurses are stressed to bits. The health service is on the verge of collapse. This is why they have to strike. How else can they make the government sit up and take notice!! 7.11.18
“Government Policy responsible for possible strike action in health and social care services,” says Brid Smith TD
People Before Profit TD, Brid Smith, has said that Government policy is directly responsible for a possible strike of over 8,000 staff in the health and social care service which could cause severe disruption to a system already at breaking point.
The TD had asked a number of Dáil questions of the Minister for Health over the funding for so-called section 39 organisations. Staff in these organisations may be taking strike action as, unlike direct HSE employees, they will not receive any pay restoration under recent pay deals and legislation.Read more »
A livley protest outside the Dail today by young nurse who’s just demands must be met immediately!