Docking nurses' wages "outrageous" 10.05.07

Sinn Féin Donegal North East election candidate, Cllr. Padraig MacLochlainn, has described as "outrageous" the HSE threat to deduct 13% from nurses' salaries if they continue their work-to-rule beyond Thursday.
Donegal Sinn Fein addressed nurses during their protest at Letterkenny Hospital and pledged the party's ongoing support for their demand for "fair wages and fair conditions".
Health Minister Mary Harney claimed on Newstalk radio on Tuesday evening that Sinn Féin was the only party fully supporting the nurses and that other opposition parties were open to negotiations.
Cllr MacLochlainn called on all the other parties to state their position clearly.
He said: "The threat by the Health Service Executive to deduct 13% from nurses' salaries is outrageous. The threat is clearly being made to try to force the hand of the nurses who gather for a special delegate conference of the Irish Nurses' Organisation in Dublin on Thursday.
"It is pouring petrol on the flames of an already prolonged and very difficult dispute.
"The just demand of the nurses for a 35-hour week is not new and is at the centre of dispute now because successive governments have failed to address it.
"Sinn Féin supports the nurses in their demand. These are the front-line workers in our health services and they deserve the full support of the wider trade union movement."