Nurses and midwives have voted to go on strike over staff shortages and pay.
Members of the INMO voted in favour of industrial action by 95 percent.
The executive will meet on January 7th and 8th to discuss the result and decide their next steps.
A strike would see INMO members withdraw their labour, providing only emergency and lifesaving care.
💪✊ðŸ½ðŸ’ª The nurses and midwives have spoken! 95% vote FOR strike.
The INMO's elected Executive Council will meet on January 7th and 8th to set dates for 24-hour strike.
United we stand! pic.twitter.com/li9NYQh3Ml
— Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (@INMO_IRL) December 18, 2018
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said:
“Ireland’s nurses and midwives are speaking with one clear voice. This vote reflects a deep frustration in our professions, which the government cannot continue to ignore.
“Nurses and midwives simply want to do their jobs and care for patients properly. But low pay has led to staff shortages, compromising safe care.
“Ireland’s current haphazard approach to nurse staffing is costly and bad for patient care, as confirmed by the Minister for Health’s own nursing taskforce.”
Yesterday members of the Psychiatric Nurses Association also voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking strike action over the matter.