"The Government may have changed but the attitude of nurses in this country and the determination of nurses in this country to get a fair deal for the contribution they have made hasn't changed," paediatric nurse, Ms Maureen Magee, told the first regional conference of the Irish Nurses Organisation in Dublin last night. She said she had sat on the union executive during last year's dispute and felt "the same feeling of determination will come through on the ground" as the INO met members throughout the country over the next two weeks. The union planned the meetings originally to give information on the recommendations in last week's report of a Nursing Commission. But it now looks as if they will become rallying points to mobilise members on pay.
Ms Magee reflected the general feeling at last night's meeting when she accused the Government of engaging in "bullying tactics" in denying nurses access to the Labour Court and Labour Relations commission.
The meeting was attended by about 200 members and after a a wide range of questions on the report, the debate focused on pay.
Mr Ann Tynan, of Temple Street Childrens' Hospital, said she had been a theatre sister for 20 years and last year's award from the Labour Court had given her an extra 89p. Another ward sister in paediatric nursing said her pay would need to be quadrupled before she would agree to any of the changes being proposed.
One young staff nurse from James's Hospital said that basic pay rates for young nurses also had to be addressed.