Nurses in the west have expressed strong opposition to the current formula for settlement of the industrial action, and have warned that they will not return to work before having an opportunity to study the Labour Court recommendations in detail.
The INO said yesterday that on the basis of the feedback it had been receiving from members, a settlement this week could not be taken for granted.
A SIPTU spokesman echoed this view last night. Considerable opposition had been expressed to the proposed senior staff nursing position, which is central to the settlement formula.
The INO industrial relations officer for the west, Ms Clare Treacy, said that the feeling on the ground was that the proposed position should be based on merit, rather than on long service. However, there was a recognition that it offered one way round the question of long-service increments. "Members do not want to defer the strike to facilitate a ballot, and any pressure to do this is being resisted."
Ms Treacy said. "INO members are very wary about what they have been hearing and reading and want to be able to vote on the issue before calling off the strike."
The Nursing Alliance continued to close beds in the Western Health Board area yesterday, and private beds will be targeted this week. The health board said it was still "under pressure but coping".
General practitioners in the west were reported to be coping with increased demand.
