Nursing students march for entitlements

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | press release

Wednesday April 14, 2004 15:02

by aidan - UCDSU

deputy.president at ucd dot ie

UCDSU has been campaigning for the end of what is effectively free labour by the health services over the past few months. Student nurse do up to 8 week placements with no expense including travel and food to which they are entitled. Equally they have to do 5 week placements outside the academic term. Within this time they have to seek alternative accomodation because no landlord gives a14 month lease. They cannot claim the grant. They have to work up to 40 hours a week for nothing. This is blantant exploitation and student nurse are being used as a mop to clean up the mess within the health service. Say no to free labour, say no to students being used as a free hands kitt, show your solidarity and march with these students from the dail to the dept of health at 2pm thursday 15th.

PRESS RELEASE
Student Nurses take to the streets to demand an end to free labour

Student nurses in Ireland’s biggest university, UCD, are set to take to the streets this Thursday to demand the payment of money and expenses to which they are entitled. The nurses are fully supported in this action by UCD Students’ Union (UCDSU) and the Irish Nurses’ Organisation (INO).

As part of their college courses student nurses are expected to take on clinical placements for eight weeks in 1st Year and ten weeks in 2nd Year. However, despite assurances that their financial needs would be met by health officials the nurses continue to work for free and without any expenses in terms of travel, books or accommodation, even when outside the academic term.

Helena Kennedy, a 1st Year Nursing student, said that “the health service professionals can no longer use student nurses as free labour. There are hundreds of student nurses being alienated and exploited by hapless health service managers.”

Paula Bilbow, also a 1st Year Nursing student, continued, “We are not a hands-free kit” she said. “Students are not a mop to be used to clean up the mess within the health system.”

Aidan Regan, the Deputy President of UCD Students’ Union, claimed that “the attitude of the health service towards these nurses makes a mockery of the Health Strategy. Placements are being lost in the bureaucracy of the Department of Health – where is the incentive to do a degree in nursing today?”

300 nurses are set to march from the Dáil to the Department of Health and Children on Hawkins Street, beginning at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 15th outside the Oireachtas.

UCD Students’ Union represents 21,000 students in University College, Dublin. For further information contact Aidan Regan, Deputy President of UCDSU, on 01-7163122 or 087-2810567, or at deputy.president@ucd.ie