The dismay, frustration and anger felt by nurses, because of a failure by the benchmarking body on public sector pay to grant them a wage increase, is threatening a resumption of industrial action. Such a development would be unfortunate at a time health services and patient care are under considerable stress and, from a professional point of view, it may be ill-judged.
Nurses were led to believe last year, during eight weeks of industrial action in advance of the general election, that the benchmarking body would deal with their claim for a 10.6 per cent pay increase. But because that demand was based on pay relativities with therapeutic grades, the benchmarking body found it was outside its terms of reference. Instead, it suggested that internal pay arrangements could deal with such anomalies and it recommended specific increases for senior nurses. Earlier, the Labour Court had declined to arbitrate on the claim.
A threat of all-out strike, unless the Labour Court re-evaluates the general pay claim and makes a recommendation, has now been issued by the Irish Nurses' Organisation (INO) and the Psychiatric Nurses' Association (PNA). Such militancy is understandable, given their members' disappointment. Last May, only a narrow majority accepted the terms on which the dispute was called off. A renewal of industrial action should not, however, distract attention from the very real progress made on working conditions. A reduction in the working week from 40 to 37.5 hours by next June was agreed. And an independent commission is examining how a 35-hour week can be introduced on a cost-neutral basis.
The pay claim was always going to pose problems, because relativity-based demands within the public sector are no longer allowed under benchmarking and national agreements. The National Implementation Body suggested the pay issue might be considered in the context of an expanded role for nurses within a reformed health service. That is still an option, but reform and the transfer of medical responsibilities have been slow.
Industrial action by nurses at this time would generate major difficulties for the health services, the Government and the economy. Reaction to the benchmarking report was broadly negative among public service unions and is likely to increase wage demands during negotiations on a new national pay agreement. At the same time, international trading conditions require that costs be kept down in order to maintain competitiveness. If special increases are granted to nurses they are likely to have a knock-on effect. Nurses deserve a proper hearing but their case must stand on demonstrable merits.