COUNCIL BACKS BREE MOTION ON STUDENT NURSES

At its meeting this month the members of Sligo County Council unanimously endorsed a motion tabled by Cllr Declan Bree, calling on the new Government to immediately restore the pay of working fourth year student nurses/midwives to 80% of the minimum of the current staff nurse scale.

Proposing his motion Cllr Bree said “The outgoing Government in addition to pay cuts, pension levy and increased taxation, which applied to all public servants, imposed a further savage pay cut on working fourth year student nurses/midwives.

“Over the years fourth year working student nurses/midwives were paid 80% of the minimum staff nurse scale for the duration of the 36 week working placement when the student nurses replaced fully qualified staff.

“However the outgoing Government made a decision to reduce the pay to fourth year working students over a number of years to the point where they would not receive any payment for their services by the year 2015.

“It is unacceptable that student nurses, especially those who work at the frontline of public service, should have to suffer to pay the debts of private banks and bondholders.

“Fianna Fail’s decision to reduce the pay to fourth year student nurses to the point where they will receive nothing is simply outrageous and must be reversed.” said Cllr Bree.