SIPTU invited to attend Labour Court to discuss new nursing and midwifery contract.
Update 13th March: SIPTU representatives are invited to attend talks at the Labour Court next Tuesday at 12 pm. (18th March) to discuss proposed new nursing and midwifery contract.
Read the draft contract here.
Members of the SIPTU Nursing and Midwifery Sector Committee have today (Tuesday, 12th March) sought to refer proposals for the introduction of an enhanced Nursing and Midwifery contract to the Labour Court.
Speaking after the lengthy meeting today in Liberty Hall, Dublin, SIPTU Nursing and Midwifery Sector Organiser, Kevin Figgis said: “Our national committee has scrutinised the terms set out in the draft contract of employment for an enhanced nursing and midwifery grade and ultimately, our members have decided to reject this document.”
He added: “This considered position has been reached in response to an attempt by management to undermine the core terms and conditions of our members’ employment under the guise of productivity. It is clear that this is an attempt to smash and grab concessions from our members which were firmly rejected when unions negotiated the Public Service Stability Agreement.”
SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell said: “Our SIPTU Nursing and Midwifery Sector Committee have formally communicated to the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) our request for this dispute to be referred to the Labour Court. SIPTU cannot accept a management proposal that generates inequity, instability and undermines the terms and conditions our members have worked for generations to achieve.”
He added: “The forceful redeployment of our members from work location to work location throughout the period of a shift cycle, as well as the destruction of rosters, is simply unacceptable.”
Attached is the final draft document on the enhanced nursing and midwifery contract.
We are requesting that members read the contents of this draft document in order to assist your understanding as to why our Nursing and Midwifery Committee has deemed the proposals unacceptable and why there is no alternative but to refer our concerns to the Labour Court.