A number of unions representing healthcare workers have called on the Taoiseach Micheal Martin to speed up payments due to staff who have worked through the Covid-19 pandemic.
The call from unions such as the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, SIPTU, Fórsa, the Irish Medical Organisation and Unite, comes after staff who have worked tirelessly and constantly put themselves on the frontline throughout the pandemic have yet to receive any recognition for their work.
Union members representatives have criticised the Government’s delay in issuing the payments saying that the decision leaves healthcare workers here behind the UK other countries across the EU.
It is understood that healthcare staff were issued a number of promises by the Government that would include bonuses as recognition for their hare work during the pandemic.
However despite discussions with HSE last November, union representative have since stated that there has been no real progress on the issue.
Representatives are now calling on the Taoiseach and the Government to come up with proposals that would avoid any need to bring the matter before the Labour Relations Court.
However despite the HSE acknowledging the requests from union representatives, the health service say they plan to review the matter of recognition payments in the autumn.
They added that they are not in a position to pre-empt any requests and any decision will be made on the basis where Ireland is in the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.