Nurses and midwives will mount the largest strike in the history of the health service this morning.
37,000 INMO members will take to the picket lines outside hospitals and HSE facilities from 8 am - demanding pay increases and government action on staff shortages.
The government says wage hikes for nurses would open the floodgates for other unions to seek pay claims, which the State cannot afford.
INMO nurses arriving at the picket line at Connolly Hospital to chants of “what do we want? Safe staffing! When do we want it? Now!” pic.twitter.com/6cnPES3GTz
— Shane Beatty (@ShaneBeattyNews) January 30, 2019
It's just the second time in 100 years nurses and midwives in Ireland will go on strike.
25,000 medical appointments have been cancelled and the HSE is appealing to people not to attend emergency departments unless absolutely necessary.
Supplies have been brought for the nurses striking at Blanchardstown. Including, of course, the local Krispy Creme doughnuts 🍩 pic.twitter.com/IAyXJFIGCA
— Shane Beatty (@ShaneBeattyNews) January 30, 2019
