Trade unions representing healthcare workers have called on the HSE to ensure that pay increases related to the cost of living are implemented immediately.
The ICTU group of healthcare trade unions have said that any further delay to the recently agreed pay increases for healthcare workers is unacceptable.
The unions say healthcare workers have not received any indication when they will receive the agreed increase, despite other members of the public sector having received payments.
Albert Murphy of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation said their members are incensed that they will not receive the terms of Building Momentum which was agreed between the Trade Unions and the Government in October 2022 as a response to the cost-of-living crisis.
“It is particularly galling that this is the case given that healthcare workers worked through the pandemic to keep the country safe and other public servants have received their money while nurses and midwives are other healthcare workers are once again being made wait,” he said.
Ashley Connolly, Forsa Trade Union said that their members are feeling the cost of living crisis like everyone else.
“We have an agreement with the Government and yet our employers are unable to confirm our members will be paid on time.
“This is not acceptable to the hundreds of thousands of healthcare workers who have provided invaluable service to this country.”
Kevin Figgis of SIPTU added that it is hugely frustrating for healthcare workers that yet again they are made to wait for agreements to be implemented by the HSE and other healthcare employers.
“Government must take all necessary measures to ensure that no healthcare worker is left short of money prior to Christmas, given the unprecedented cost of living crisis which affects everybody in this country.”
