Analysis:Many other groups will be seeking a shorter working week, writes Martin Wall, Industry Correspondent.
While the Government is delighted at the breakthrough in the seven-week dispute involving 40,000 nurses, it will be concerned that the reduced working week on offer could prompt demands from other health sector groups for similar arrangements.
Under proposals drawn up by the National Implementation Body (NIB), the working week for nurses would be reduced from the current 39 hours to 37.5 hours by June of next year.
An independent commission would be established to see how the health service could move towards the introduction of a 35-hour week, one of two key goals of the Irish Nurses' Organisation and the Psychiatric Nurses' Association in the dispute.
The architects of the proposed deal believe it has been constructed in such a way it will not be easy for other groups to piggyback on the arrangements to secure a shorter week.
However, the history of industrial relations in the public sector has shown repeatedly that different groups are not slow to try to catch up on any concessions made to other workers.
As long ago as last summer, the trade union Siptu signalled that it would be seeking a 35-hour week for its members in the health sector if such a deal was granted to nurses. Siptu last night said it would be meeting with health service management on Friday of next week to pursue this claim.
Siptu represents about 30,000 healthcare assistants, paramedics, catering and other staff.
It said the Government had indicated it was prepared to reduce working hours for nurses outside of the benchmarking process and that its members would be seeking equal treatment. Siptu will now seek to secure a reduced week through direct negotiations.
The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), representing non-consultant hospital doctors, is also to meet with health service management later this month about working hours. While the IMO has not lodged a claim for a 35-hour week, sources said that it would be discussing the deal offered to nurses.
The Garda Representative Association also said last night that it would use the deal offered to nurses to press its claim for a reduced working week for its members.
However, Government and management sources have argued that the reduced working week offered to nurses will, in return, require major changes in work practices and flexibility.
Sources said that the bottom line for the Government would be that the reduced working hours would have to be implemented on a cost-neutral basis and without any diminution in services for patients.
Government sources maintained that any other group seeking a shorter week would also have to put forward similar plans for work practice changes.
Other sources involved in the deal suggested that unions may wait to see the level of productivity and reforms that nurses will have to provide before making their own moves
The intervention by the NIB which led to the breakthrough followed directly from suggestions by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern last Friday that international arbitrators could be brought in, and the generally positive reaction of the unions to these remarks.
Members of the NIB including David Begg and Peter McLoone of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and Dermot McCarthy of the Department of the Taoiseach held lengthy talks on Saturday to put a package together.
The Taoiseach, Minister for Health Mary Harney and Minister for Finance Brian Cowen were kept closely informed over the weekend. It is understood the NIB originally proposed that the working week for nurses be reduced to 37 hours from next year but that Ms Harney and the Health Service Executive disagreed. Sources said Ms Harney agreed to consider the 37.5 hour compromise overnight on Monday and indicated her acceptance of the proposal on Tuesday.