Reduced working time and increased pay for midwives and nurses can be achieved through the benchmarking process, according to Siptu's nursing president, Mary Durkin.
Speaking at the union's annual nursing convention in Castlebar, Ms Durkin said that although there was "a great deal of unrest" in the health service, significant progress for nurses and midwives could still be delivered.
Commenting on Siptu's submission to the benchmarking body, she said the changing role of nurses was well documented and would lead to improved pay as well as progress on the issue of working time - "with a reduction of one hour a week in place by the end of this year and further reductions to follow in due course".
Ms Durkin also expressed confidence that the pay anomaly that exists between some staff nurses and childcare workers can be dealt with through the benchmarking process.
The anomaly came about in 2001, when childcare workers were awarded increases of 20 - 27 per cent. In some cases, this created a situation where childcare workers could earn more money than the staff nurses who manage them.
"This round of benchmarking should rectify that anomaly," said Ms Durkin.
Unlike the Irish Nurses' Organisation and the Psychiatric Nurses' Association, which are engaged in an industrial dispute, Siptu is pursuing its claims on behalf of nurses through the benchmarking process.
Ms Durkin said the union was also willing to address other anomalies in the health service. She instanced the situation where patients who present at accident and emergency units after 6pm cannot get access to a particular service until the following morning because the service closes at 5pm.
"We would like to see certain services available earlier in the morning and later in the evening. Nurses have always been willing to take on new challenges and we are willing to do so now."
Ms Durkin said the fact that the vast majority of nurses are females may have led to a perception in some quarters that it was a low-status job when it comes to pay and conditions.