The first all-out strike by the State's 28,000 nurses began yesterday and there is no knowing how long it will last. Some resolution is inevitable at some stage; which is why there is an obligation on all parties to truncate the dispute and to minimise the hurt and damage that will be inflicted on the community and the health services. It is regrettable that a strike was found to be necessary. But the unfair treatment meted out to nurses over recent decades, in terms of pay and conditions, had generated such a reservoir of resentment within the profession that industrial action may have seemed to be the only mechanism capable of venting that anger. Certainly, there was little evidence that the four trade unions involved provided their members with the kind of rigorous, if unpopular, analyses that might have altered the situation.
There has been significant change in recent days. The nurses unions now accept that any settlement of the dispute should be within the framework of Partnership 2000. Following that concession and yesterday's meeting with the Nursing Alliance, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions offered to facilitate a process of negotiations that would lead to an improvement in the pay and conditions of nurses, but within the terms of social partnership. Any outstanding issues from those negotiations, Mr Peter Cassells suggested, could be referred to a third party for review.
The general purposes committee of ICTU was last night trying to agree a formula and a framework with Government officials that would take the process forward without breaching the terms of social partnership. And, later today, the Government may authorise the opening of negotiations with health service employers. Such a development would be welcomed. But it should not blind people to the fact that a settlement may be some way off. Direct negotiations between the Nursing Alliance and health service employers are certain to be difficult. And the involvement of a third party, like the Labour Court, to deal with outstanding issues will complicate the position. The strike is expected to continue until the Nursing Alliance is in a position to put a settlement package to its members.
The shape of that package is unclear. But, if it is not to breach the terms of Partnership 2000, it is likely to follow an outline given to the Dail by the Taoiseach, last week. On that occasion, Mr Ahern suggested that nurses should seek to advance their position in the short-term under the report of the Commission on Nursing. In the longer term, progress might be made by way of a new public service pay determination system and through post-Partnership 2000 talks.
There is scope for flexibility within the terms of the report of the Nursing Commission. It contained 202 recommendations, but only those three relating to pay have yet been considered. The question of allowances could be addressed, along with other issues. But the demands which gave rise to this strike are unlikely to be met immediately. Reports from around the country indicate that morale amongst nurses is high. And they are receiving strong support from members of the general public. But public opinion is a fickle thing. And if this dispute drags on and causes long-term damage to a health system that is already in crisis, nurses will inevitably share in the blame. The sooner this strike is settled, the better.