F R E E S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R , V o l . 1 2 I S S U E 8 , 1 5 . 0 2 . 2 0 1 1
SU warns election candidates of student vote By Richard Manton
Student nurses protest against pay cuts By Richard Manton On 9th February, NUIG student nurses working in UHG took part in a lunchtime work stoppage against pay cuts. The Galway work stoppage formed part of a national campaign involving 3,500 student nurses in 13 hospitals. Student nurses and midwives work 36 hour week as part of their final work placement. At present, the students who work full shift patterns including weekends and nights are paid 80% of a nurse’s salary. The students are an integral part of a hospital’s workforce
providing essential, direct and immediate bedside care. However, the last Government proposed reducing the amount being paid to student nurses over the next four years and eliminating it completely in 2015. The cuts will mean that wages paid this year will be 76% of the newly reduced minimum wage. Students’ Union President, Peter Mannion, said: “This is a despicable act by a dying Government which will have huge implications for an already overburdened
health system. The Department of Health & Children is effectively introducing slave labour by cutting and removing pay for student nurses on work placement. We’re not talking about occasional hours outside the classroom here - student nurses work a full week including nights and weekends and perform many of the same functions as qualified nurses. To expect anybody to do that for nothing is beyond belief.” Following the protests, Mary Coughlan –
Tánaiste and Minister for Health – admitted that there was “a strong argument in favour of retaining some level of payment to student nurses” and that she has asked the Department of Health “to review the rationale for the total abolition of clinical placement payments to student nurses”. A national protest will take place this Wednesday, 16th February from 121.30pm from Parnell Square, Dublin. Transport will be organised by the Students’ Union.
The Students’ Union is warning all candidates in the upcoming general election to be aware of the student vote. A number of factors have led commentators to dub this election the most important in the history of the state and it is likely that the election will see the highest student voter turnout. Students’ Union President, Peter Mannion, said: “The Student Vote will certainly be a big factor in this election and candidates should take notice of what students are telling them.” As part of a voter registration drive, the SU registered 500 students who were not
previously on the Register of Electors. The majority of these are likely to be students who have turned 18 since the previous election. Many students have also moved their vote to the Galway West constituency. Mannion added: “With the election taking place on a Friday coupled with the huge amount of new voters being registered, students will certainly have a say in how the next government is formed.” See Sin General Election Special 2011 for student analysis on the general election
GENERAL ELECTION SPECIAL 12 PAGE PULLOUT