SIPTU and the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) have accepted a Labour Relations Commission proposal to end overcrowding in accident and emergency wards.
As a result, nurses will suspend their work-to-rule in Accident & Emergency from tomorrow morning, and will allow between four weeks for management to implement the Labour Relations Commission Porposals.
The INO will meet on April 29th to review the implementation of the proposals and will return to their work-to-rule action in hospitals were it is believed the proposals are not being implemented.
A SIPTU spokesperson said the decision had been made by consensus and that it would be meeting next month to review progress.
The proposals were drawn up by union leaders and health managers at the Labour Relations Commission early yesterday morning.
Under the agreement, each hospital will establish an admissions and discharge policy within a month of industrial action being suspended. A monitoring committee will be formed to oversee the policy.
But there are concerns some parts of the deal, including extending the role of bed managers, may lead to resistance from hospital doctors and the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association, which is to seek clarification on medical contract.
Hospital consultants will meet on Saturday to consider their reaction to the proposals.