The Irish nurses’ union is urging members to vote on strike action to tackle understaffing issue

This could result in 24-hour work stoppages.

The Irish nurses union is urging its members to vote in favour of strike action in response to a dispute about understaffing and safety.

According to the union, if the motions passes, there would be 24-hour work stoppages in hospitals across the country. The Nurses and Midwives organisation has said that “members would provide only a minimum of lifesaving care and emergency response teams”. According to the union, low pay is resulting in an inability to recruit and keep nursing staff in Ireland. This has resulted in a major understaffing issue nationwide. Voting will run for under four weeks until December 13 in offices, hospitals and workplaces around Ireland. This could mean strike action taking place close to Christmas. The Irish nurses union has over 40,000 members, and all members employed by the public health service have a right to vote. INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: “This is all about safety. Nurses and midwives do not want to go on strike. We just want to do our jobs and care for patients. Yet understaffing means we can no longer do that." “The government are ignoring voices from the frontline. Without a pay rise for nurses and midwives, we will never be able to recruit enough staff for a safe health service." “Going on strike is not a decision we take lightly, but we have been left with no option and are now forced down this path. Nurses and midwives are united and will stand up for our professions and our patients.”