Early signs of breakthrough emerge in nurses' dispute

Early signs of breakthrough in the nurses' dispute emerged this afternoon after the employers and unions indicated a willingess…

Early signs of breakthrough in the nurses' dispute emerged this afternoon after the employers and unions indicated a willingess to enter talks without preconditions.

The Irish Nurses' Organisation and the Psychiatric Nurses' Association (PNA) today announced an escalation of its rolling industrial action with plans for 50 new work stoppages next Wednesday and Friday.

But the unions reiterated they were available for "meaningful negotiations" without preconditions and called on the Health Service Executive (HSE) to engage in such talks.

It is believed the HSE will enter discussions almost immediately if the unions call off their action and removed any precondition relating to a date for the start of a 35-hour week.

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INO general secretary Liam Doran told RTÉ radio the escalation of the industrial action, would be suspended if the HSE agreed to meaningful talks.

"We are not saying that a date for the 35-hour week is a required statement up front by the employers to have discussions and negotiations started," Mr Doran said.

The Taoiseach yesterday repeated the Government's insistence that the claim can only be addressed through the public service benchmarking process. Mr Doran today said that "creativity" in negotiations could lead to a "move into benchmarking".

The action planned for next week entails one-hour walk-outs at hospitals, clinics in some cases affecting services. Other services will also be hit if the fourth week of industrial action goes ahead.

Counties Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Limerick, Kerry, Cork, Offaly, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Dublin, Louth, Cavan, Longford and Westmeath will be affected.

The unions say their joint action will allow for "sufficient numbers" of staff to remain on duty to provide essential and emergency cover.

The HSE yesterday claimed there had been a number of "near misses" in relation to patient care as a result of previous walk-outs.

But PNA chairman Liam McNamara reacted with derision to the claim at its annual conference yesterday.

In a joint statement today, the unions said the HSE and Department of Health were engaging in scaremongering and generating "unnecessary anxiety amongst patients".

"Notwithstanding this groundless attack on the standing and commitment of their employees the support of members at this week's work stoppages again demonstrated the solidarity and absolute commitment of all members to this campaign for equity and the equal treatment of nurses and midwives vis-à-vis all other health professionals and management grades in the health service."

"The escalation announced today will mean that all major acute hospitals, together with the mental health services in the same geographic area, will have been involved in a work stoppage, in addition to the ongoing work to rule," the statement said.

Nurses are seeking a 10.6 per cent pay rise and a reduction of their 39-hour working to 35 hours.

INO/PNA WORK STOPPAGES

(Week 4)

Wednesday, 25 thApril 2007

Location

Time

Mercy Hospital, Cork

North Lee Mental Health Services

11.00 a.m. - 12.00 midday

University College Hospital, Galway

Galway Mental Health Services

11.00 a.m. - 12.00 midday

Letterkenny General Hospital

Donegal Mental Health Services

11.00 a.m. - 12.00 midday

Monaghan General Hospital

Monaghan Mental Health & ID Services

11.00 a.m. - 12.00 midday

Naas General Hospital

Kildare Mental Health Services

11.00 a.m. - 12.00 midday

St John's Hospital, Limerick

11.00 a.m. - 12.00 midday

AMNCH, Tallaght

West Dublin Mental Health Services

11.00 a.m. - 12.00 midday

St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny

Kilkenny Mental Health Services

11.00 a.m. - 12.00 midday

Location

Time

Cavan General Hospital

Cavan Mental Health Services

2.30 p.m. - 3.30 p.m.

Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown

St Brendan's Hospital / Area 6 Mental Health Services

2.30 p.m. - 3.30 p.m.

South Infirmary/Victoria Hospital, Cork

South Lee Mental Health Services

2.3o p.m. - 3.30 p.m.

Waterford Regional Hospital

Waterford Mental Health Services

2.30 p.m. - 3.30 p.m.

Mallow General Hospital

North Cork Mental Health Services

2.30 p.m. - 3.30 p.m.

Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar

Longford/Westmeath Mental Health Services

2.30 p.m. - 3.30 p.m.

St Michael's Hospital, Dun Laoghaire

2.30 p.m. - 3.30 p.m.

Friday, 27 thApril 2007

Location

Time

Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe

East Galway Mental Health Services

11.00 a.m. - 12.00 midday

Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar

Aras Attracta, Castlebar

Mayo Mental Health Services

11.00 a.m. - 12.00 midday

Cork University & St Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital

South Lee Mental Health Services

11.00 a.m. - 12.00 midday

Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda

Louth Mental Health Services

11.00 a.m. - 12.00 midday

Mid-West Regional Hospital, Limerick

Limerick Mental Health Services

11.00 a.m. - 12.00 midday

St. Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown

Wicklow Mental Health Services

11.00 a.m. - 12.00 midday

Mater Hospital, Dublin 7

Dublin North Central Mental Services

St Vincents, Fairview / Dept. of Psychiatry, Mater

11.00 a.m. - 12.00 midday

Our Lady's Hospital, Navan

Meath Mental Health Services

11.00 a.m. - 12.00 midday

Tralee General Hospital

North Kerry Mental Health Services

11.00 a.m. - 12.00 midday

Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore

Offaly Mental Health Services

11.00 a.m. - 12.00 midday

Wexford General Hospital

Wexford Mental Health Services

11.00 a.m. - 12.00 midday