Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) has voted in favour of a motion which mandates sabbatical officers to lobby College, local and national politicians for better working conditions for students on placement.
The motion was proposed by TCDSU Education Officer Megan O’Connor and seconded by TCDSU Citizenship Officer Jodie Milne.
The motion noted that “students on clinical placement across the country such as student nurses and midwives are working in unsafe conditions, are unpaid and undervalued.”
The motion also described how “job prospects for student nurses upon graduation are extremely limited in Ireland, with low wages and harsh working conditions. In an INMO survey in 2018, 71 per cent of final year student nurses considered leaving Ireland. In a Trinity survey in 2015, it was found that 50 per cent of student midwives experienced bullying.”
Speaking in favour of the motion O’Connor said: “We previously had a motion like this supporting the INMO in their strikes. I felt it was very specific. This motion was written to be a little more vague to cover for all students who may be participating in placement and may need support with their trade unions.”
“I think everyone is incredibly aware of the situation these students are facing on placement, they are incredibly vulnerable.”
“I would urge you all to please vote in favour of it”, O’Connor concluded.
Also speaking in favour of the motion, Milne, who is also a nursing student, said: “It’s a really difficult time for anyone to be on placement. We need to back the union in any way we can to support students.”
This amendment follows a vote this week where the government shot down a motion that would have seen the Dáil call on the government to pay student nurses and midwives paid as health care assistants during the coronavirus pandemic.
The motion would also have called on the government to engage with students and their unions to set up a bursary or payment system to cover the costs of travel and accommodation during their placements.
The government would also have been called on to abolish fees for students training in the health service.
