20/02/2015 Comments are off Health Division
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SIPTU nurses and midwives organising local protests against NMBI fee increase

SIPTU nurses and midwives are organising lunchtime protests at hospitals across the country on Monday, 2nd March, to highlight the attempt by the Nurses and Midwives Board of Ireland (NMBI) to increase its retention fee by 50%.

SIPTU Nursing Sector Organiser, Kevin Figgis, said: “ SIPTU is encouraging all nurse and midwives to stand together and hold a lunchtime protest on 2nd March. This is the day before the forthcoming special NMBI board meeting, which has been called to consider a proposal to amend the fee. “We would encourage all health members to organise with their colleagues to make their voices heard loud and clear on that day. Members should liaise with their local organiser so that they can be advised of the specifics of their local protest.”

He added: “These protests will again demonstrate the strong support for the campaign and for the need for the NMBI board to reverse their decision and restore the €100 fee.”

12/11/2014 Comments are off SIPTU Health
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SIPTU calls on nurses and midwives to stand firm against NMBI fee demand

SIPTU have advised members to ignore a recent intimidatory statement, from the Nurses and Midwives Board of Ireland (NMBI), with regard to the current campaign of opposition to the 50% increase in retention fee being sought by that organisation.

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Kevin Figgis, said: “SIPTU and the other nursing unions have reiterated their advice, to all members, in relation to the attempt by NMBI to impose a fee increase. That is to make no payment at this time in response to renewal notices as the matter has been raised under the Haddington Road Agreement with the Department of Health.

“All available nurses and midwives are also requested to attend a public protest outside the NMBI headquarters in Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin on Tuesday 18th November, at 12.00 p.m.

He added: “The three nursing unions have also advised their members that the NMBI’s own rules ensure that no decision, about non-payment, can come before its board prior to March. Also, the HSE, last year, gave the 30th May as the last date for production of confirmation that the retention fee had been paid.

“Against this factual background the NMBI’s recent unsigned statement, suggesting that the disputed fee, of €150, has to be paid, in full, by the 1st January, is misleading, disingenuous, intimidatory and very divisive. Furthermore the unions believe it confirms the level of separation between the NMBI and the professions it is charged with regulating.”

In maintaining their campaign of opposition the three unions have re-affirmed their support for a retention fee, of €100, which is the same retention fee levied upon all other allied health professionals, the need for a regulatory body that protects the public by ensuring that nurses and midwives can practice in an environment conducive to the highest quality care through safe practice and that all expenditure by this statutory regulatory body is subject to openness and full transparency with tighter controls of public relations and legal costs.

07/11/2014 Comments are off Health Division
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Hold Tight, Do Not Pay and Come Out On The Day

SIPTU members are being asked not to feel pressurised by the NMBI renewal notice and to stand together and refuse to pay the 50% increase imposed on Nurses and Midwives by the NMBI.

SIPTU and other unions are seeking a cap on the fee of €100 per annum under the Haddington Road agreement that will keep Nurses and Midwives in line with other allied health professionals.

Sector Organiser Kevin Figgis said that no state organisation is entitled to increase its income by 50% from a single source and is encouraging all members of SIPTU attend the protest so that their voices can be heard loud and clear by the NMBI.

“Our members should not feel pressurised by the renewal notice issued in recent days by NMBI. They have until 30th May 2015 to make a payment under the 2014 regulations issued by NMBI. The employer, in this case the HSE, cannot discipline any member, or require proof of payment, until after that date”.

“This unjustified increase and tax on work is at the expense of hard pressed people that have worked day in and day out with staffing and pay cuts across the health service – enough is enough.”

“This campaign of resistance can work is all our members stick together and attend the protest on the 18th of November. It is also very important for our members to be aware that they have up until the 30th of May 2015 to make their payment under NMBI regulations so our advice is to hold tight, don’t pay and come out on the day.”

Note to members

Buses for the protest are available – contact your local Union rep or email ask@siptuhealth.ie

NMBI is seeking to increase the retention fee for members for 2015, from €100 to €150. ‌ Nurses and midwives will hold a public protest, to coincide with the next meeting of the NMBI board, which is scheduled for Tuesday, 18th November. This protest will begin at midday outside NMBI Headquarters, 18/20 Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.

SIPTU nurses and midwives are also being asked to send in individual letters of complaint to NMBI outlining their reasons for opposing the rise in the retention fee.

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