Siptu likely to ballot nurse members for strike action

The trade union Siptu appears set to ballot its 4,000 nursing members for strike action over the recruitment and retention of staff.

The Irish Nursesand Midwives Organisation (INMO) already has a mandate for strike action and could announce a date for industrial action as early as Wednesday.

The moves follow the breakdown of talks between health service management and unions representing nurses over difficulties recruiting and retaining staff.

It is understood that the HSE has told the unions that management would be available for further talks on Tuesday night. It is unclear at present as to whether or not these proposed discussions will go ahead.

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The national nursing committee of Siptu met on Tuesday to consider what action to take following the breakdown of the talks.

Siptu divisional organiser Paul Bell said afterwards that the union would now be going out to talk to its members. He said that while no final decision had been made, it seemed "more than likely" that Siptu would ballot its nurse members for strike action.

On Monday the INMO said that unless there was a radical improvement in the proposals for recruitment and retention tabled by management, it was probable that its executive would decide to servce notice for industrial action at a meeting on Wednesday.

The INMO has previously warned that industrial action could involve work stoppages as well as the introduction of restrictions on services in hospitals to match the level of staff available.

Such a development could hit both waiting lists and the the levels of overcrowding in emergengcy departments.