Colleagues,
As you are aware the recruitment and retention dispute has been a long and protracted process. The PNA attended the Labour Court on the 31st July and the 8th of August subsequently Labour Court Recommendation (LCR) 22075 was issued on the 19th August 2019 recommending.that the parties re-engage in relation to the:
- Enhanced Nurse Contract.
- Extension of the Unqualified Occupational Therapist allowance
- Application of Differential to the Enhanced Nurse Scale. The Court recommends that “the parties should seek to agree appropriate costs off setting measures which, if implemented, could facilitate consideration of the claim on a cost neutral basis” In relation to the application of the salary differential to the enhanced nurse scale and the extension of the Unqualified Occupational Therapist Allowance a timeline of 8 weeks is proposed by the Employer to assess and examine the costings in respect of the PNA submission to the Labour Court on the 8th August.
- In relation to the expert review of nursing which is to be completed during the lifetime of the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020. (PSSA), the Court recommends, “upon the acceptance of the recommendation, the parties should engage appropriately as regards the terms of reference and make up of the Expert Review Group on Nursing This group will address claims in relation to promotional grades taking account of the Higher Enhanced Staff Nurse scale.”
- In relation to the review regarding Area Director of Nursing the Court recommends “that the review committed to in 2012 should be carried forward to a conclusion in the manner intended by the parties jointly”. The first meeting in relation to this process took place on the 11th October 2019.
Enhanced Nurse Contract
Following extensive engagement, the employer proposed a revised Enhanced Nurse Contract, (and a WRC Chairman’s note in relation to any proposed safe staffing tool for Mental Health Services which states “that the introduction of any such safe staffing tool will be subject to the normal industrial relations consultation and engagement processes, including where necessary, referral to the machinery of the state, as provided for in the public service agreements.”
An NEC was held on the 24th October in relation to the above proposals. A motion was carried to conduct a ballot in relation to the above proposals with a recommendation to accept.
The ballot is now complete with an 80% majority in favour of accepting the proposed measures
This now means that the Enhanced contract, public service commission recommendations and other agreed elements of LCR 21900 and LCR 21901 will be applied and the processing in relation to the differential, extension of allowance, area directors will continue as per timelines.
Proposals in Summary
- A new enhanced Nurse Salary Scale effective from 1st March 2019 as outlined in the table below.
·
|
Current Old Scale Point
|
Old Point Value
|
New Scale Point Year 1
|
New Point Value Year 1
|
|
Point 1
|
30,529
|
3 *
|
33,470
|
|
Point 2
|
32,246
|
1
|
36,433
|
|
Point 3
|
33,470
|
1
|
36,433
|
|
Point 4
|
34,717
|
1
|
36,433
|
|
Point 5
|
36,024
|
1
|
36,433
|
|
Point 6
|
37,254
|
2
|
38,728
|
|
Point 7
|
38,538
|
3
|
39,952
|
|
Point 8
|
39,537
|
4
|
40,895
|
|
Point 9
|
40,628
|
5
|
41,933
|
|
Point 10
|
42,042
|
6
|
43,315
|
|
Point 11
|
43,433
|
7
|
44,661
|
|
MAX
|
45,415
|
8
|
46,643
|
|
LSI
|
46,797
|
LSI
|
48,027
|
|
SSN
|
49,048
|
SSN
|
50,337
|
*Old Scale will progress in time to point1 of the new ENP Scale
See examples below :
Nurses/Midwives currently on point 5, at their next increment post 1st March 2019, progress normally to 6 and become eligible to move to point 2 of the new scale.
Nurses/Midwives currently on point 9, at their next increment post 1st March 2019, progress normally to 10 and become eligible to move to point 6 of the new scale.
Nurses/Midwives currently on point 12 (Max of Scale) at their next increment post 1st March 2019 progress normally towards achievement of the Long Service Increment (LSI).If they do not have the required service to achieve the LSI they become eligible to move to point 8 of the new scale, with their existing level of service towards achievement of the LSI.
If they do have the required service to achieve the LSI, they become eligible to move to point 9 (LSI) of the new scale.
Nurses/Midwives currently on point 13 (LSI), at their next increment post 1st March 2019, progress normally towards achievement of the Senior Staff Nurse/Midwife.
If they do not have the required service to achieve the Senior Staff Nurse/Midwife they become eligible to move to point 9 (LSI) of the new scale, with their existing level of service towards achievement of the Senior Staff Nurse/Midwife.
If they do have the required service to progress to become a Senior Staff Nurse/ Midwife, they become eligible to move to the Senior Enhanced Nurse Practice point of the new scale.It is up to each individual nurse to decide if they wish to access the new enhanced scale.
Increase in location and qualification allowance of 20% effective from 1st March 2019, i.e;,
- Location Allowance increase of €372 to €2230
- Qualification Allowance increase of €558 to €3349
- A reduction in the eligibility criteria for Senior Staff Nurse from 20 years to 17 years effective from 1st November 2019.
- 2% of Mental Health Nurses to progress to ANP level.
- Nurses working alongside or supervising social care workers in Intellectual Disability services to be upgraded to CNM1 Grade
We will be maintaining pressure on the HSE in relation to the outstanding issues which are to be addressed .I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your hard work and commitment throughout this protracted dispute and to wish all the membership a happy and peaceful Christmas and every good wish for the New Year.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Hughes
General Secretary
