IMO doctors have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action over “unjustifiable pay inequality faced by consultants.” This news comes as the HSE acknowledged its systems, as they stand, are “not fit for future needs.” The vote was passed with 94% in favour, with the Irish Medical Organisation saying in a statement that this resulted from doctors no longer being able to “tolerate the decimation of health services in Ireland, and the life-threatening effect this is having on patients throughout the country”.
Meanwhile, an estimated 15,500 nurses are taking strike action across Northern Ireland in protest over pay and staff numbers.
In Finland, new PM Sanna Marin has made a "bold working life-related proposal" on the four day week during a panel discussion. “A four-day work week, a six-hour workday. Why couldn't it be the next step? Is eight hours really the ultimate truth? I believe people deserve to spend more time with their families, loved ones, hobbies and other aspects of life, such as culture." She said this as she identified a considerably shorter work week as one of the objectives the party should incorporate into its agenda and pursue in the future.
The Irish Government's commitment to supporting working families has been called into question after it emerged that public servants are not getting full pay during parental leave. The ASTI, TUI and INTO have said the Government is not topping up the basic €245 a week social welfare payment that has been available to working parents since last month.
Strike action elsewhere saw hundreds of thousands join a final national protest in France yesterday before Christmas against pension reform, as President Emmanuel Macron's government pledged "total determination" to see the overhaul through. Electricity workers caused chaos by cutting power to almost 100,000 homes overnight as part of the protest with warnings of bigger power cuts to follow.
For those of you interested in GAA, the ESRI have conducted a study which revealed a number of alarming findings about Gaelic players, including unmonitored supplement use among inter-county players and education choices based on their playing pursuits. These articles will be able to contextualise the findings far better than I could.
And it's been announced that more chefs from outside the country will be eligible for employment permits allowing them to work in Ireland, as a result of changes announced by Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys today. The move, which follows a review of labour market requirements, is aimed at addressing staff shortages in the hospitality sector.
VOTE FOR ZEN: ZMOTY 2019
Go back to the survey link on the front page to vote. Just a reminder of the nominees:
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