Forty thousand midwives and nurses begin voting today on a plan of action to tackle pay and working conditions.
The Irish Nurses' Organisation (INO) and Psychiatric Nurses' Association (PNA) are holding regional meetings in Cork and Tullamore, the first in a series of meetings to be held over the next 10 days nationwide.
The ballot seeks the membership's endorsement of the plan of action which includes talks with all political parties and individual TDs and senators, a nationwide work to rule on a date to be determined, and a possible withdrawal of labour, for short periods, on a regional basis with emergency services being maintained.
A result is due to be announced on February 2nd.
The INO and PNA will meet Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny later today and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern tomorrow to explain the two unions' approach to these issues and ascertain the parties' respective positions.
Union leaders will also discuss recent Labour Court Recommendations with the health employers on Friday, January 19th.
"The nationwide ballot marks the next phase in the two union's campaign for fair treatment for nurses and midwives, with regard to their working hours, and other pay anomalies," said INO general secretary Liam Doran.