HEALTH SERVICE staff are to consider plans for the introduction of an overtime ban as part of an escalation of the public service industrial action in protest at pay cuts.
Highly-placed sources said last night that the issue of an overtime ban would be discussed at a meeting of health trade unions tomorrow.
Sources said while an overtime ban would not have a major impact on all areas, it could lead to severe disruption in some parts of the health service.
Mental health services could be hit particularly hard by a prohibition on overtime.
Other proposals to be considered at the meeting tomorrow include regional stoppages of a short duration or an escalation of the current ban on co-operation with administration in the health services.
The public services committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) is scheduled to meet on Monday to consider a possible escalation of the industrial action.
The action has been under way for the last fortnight in protest at the pay cuts introduced in the budget for public service staff.
Meanwhile, lower-paid civil service staff who are members of CPSU yesterday again refused to operate public offices in a number of Government departments and agencies until 11am.
The offices affected included the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Agriculture.
The union also put in place a ban on answering phones in the afternoon in the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Agriculture, the Chief State Solicitor’s Office and the Central Statistics Office.