NURSING union leaders are to meet health service managers today to try to resolve differences over the level of cover to be provided in the event of a strike.
The result of the SIPTU nurses ballot is also due to be announced today. According to the union's nursing officer, Mr Noel Dowling, the majority backing strike action is expected to be similar to the 92 to 95 per cent recorded by other nursing unions.
It is understood the Labour Court is approaching unions and management about convening a shearing. It is expected to invite them to the court next week.
On Wednesday the psychiatric nurses voted by 92 per cent to 8 per cent for a strike. If the strike goes ahead on February 10th, the Psychiatric Nurses' Association of Ireland says it will only provide emergency cover and essential support services.
Its general secretary, Mr Des Kavanagh, said all routine services in the community would be withdrawn. Nurses will not provide services to clinics (community or hospital based), mental health centres, day centres or day hospitals.
Occupational therapy, industrial therapy, counselling services, community and domiciliary visiting, escort duties and support facilities will also lose cover. Within hospitals there will be no services for routine admissions, administrative work, blood taking, writing reports, non essential therapy or non nursing duties.
Meanwhile, the largest nursing union, the Irish Nurses' Organisation, which has already balloted for industrial action, has criticised the treatment of temporary nurses under existing arrangements. It accused health boards and hospitals of operating "zero hour" contracts for many of the State's 5,500 temporary nurses. It says this is especially the case with short term temporary hospital nurses.
"These nurses are generally informed by hospital managements that they may be required during a particular week, but with no certainty of work," says the INO assistant general secretary, Ms Leonore Mrkwicka. "They must stay on standby at home waiting for a telephone call to inform them if they are required. If they are called they get paid; if not, they don't.
"There is no `on call' payment for these nurses", she said, and they often have "to work at the drop of a hat - for example called at 8 a.m. to come in for duty at 8.30 a.m." Another category of nurses affected are "twilight nurses" in the community. They are not paid any unsocial hours premiums although liable for night duty and weekend calls.
The INO is seeking extra permanent posts for temporary nurses in its dispute with the Department of Health. It is also seeking full incremental credit for the past temporary service of the nurses made permanent.