The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) and the Health Service Employers Agency (HSEA) ended their first day of discussions at the Labour Relations Commission agreeing a framework for negotiations to try and resolve the row over rosters.
They are not due to meet again until 10.30 a.m. on Friday when the negotiations proper will commence.
The LRC has agreed to chair the talks. The format was reached during talks last Thursday that led to junior doctors at Tullamore and Waterford Hospitals suspending their industrial action for one month.
Health service managers also agreed to suspend the new working rosters at both Waterford and Tullamore hospitals during the talks.
The LRC has been given until September 16th to complete its assessment of the issues. The related issue of working hours and overtime rates will be examined by the Labour Court on September 5th.
Junior doctors began their industrial action because they claim employers are trying to circumvent new overtime rates by making night and weekend work a part of their basic rosters. They claim this will result in less daytime training under the direction of specialist consultants.
But employers claim the rosters comply with the European Union’s Working Time Directive, which will mean reduced hours for junior doctors. They claim the industrial action is an attempt by junior doctors to protect their lucrative overtime payments.
The results of a ballot of over 2,600 non-consultant hospital doctors nationwide on a mandate for striking over rosters are expected at 5:30 on Friday. However, any further industrial action depends on a LRC-brokered solution failing to satisfy both sides
