RCN Northern Ireland Annual Reps Conference focuses on nurses' pay award campaign
Published: 13 June 2007
The annual RCN Northern Ireland Reps Conference was held in Belfast on Wednesday 13 June 2007.
Chaired jointly by RCN Northern Ireland Board members Margaret McCambridge and Marie McAteer, the programme featured a keynote address from Sinn Féin health spokesperson Carál Ní Chiulín MLA, who expressed her support and that of her party for the RCN's pay campaign.
In a press statement following the conference, Ms Ní Chiulín warned Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety Michael McGimpsey MLA not to underestimate the current mood of unrest amongst nurses in Northern Ireland.
She said: “Mr McGimpsey and the Executive should be under no illusions about the level of anger there is among nurses at how they have been treated over the staggering of the 2.5% pay award. The fact is that we need to see delivery on the 2.5% pay rise for nurses immediately and in full rather than it being done in stages and we also need to recognise that this pay increase still falls short of the levels of pay nurses should receive.
"Nurses and workers throughout the health services provide care equitably and efficiently to all who need it. They are the frontline of our health services delivering care to patients in difficult circumstances. They should not have to worry about getting fair rates of pay or be forced to contemplate industrial action.”
Presentations were also made at the conference by Chief Nursing Officer Martin Bradley and DHSSPS Director of Human Resources David Bingham, RCN UK Head of Employment Relations Josie Irwin, RCN Northern Ireland Deputy Director Janice Smyth and Head of Professional Development Dr Carolyn Mason, and Geraldine Byers, a lead nurse in accident and emergency services with Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.