THE three Government leaders are to seek an urgent meeting with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to discuss the threat to the Programme for Competitiveness and Work that would be posed by a national nurses' strike.
One nursing union leader said yesterday a strike seemed inevitable after members voted eight to one to reject pay proposals under the PCW. The result of the ballot has fuelled Government concern at the growing inability of public sector unions to win the acceptance of their members to restructuring deals.
It wants Congress to give assurances that the "peace clause" of the PCW, which outlaws strike action in pursuit of pay claims, will be honoured. The Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, and the Minister for Social Welfare, Mr De Rossa, will be accompanied to any meeting by the Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, whose Department has overall responsibility for public sector pay negotiations.
It is very rare for a Taoiseach to seek a meeting with Congress leaders. The fact that all three Coalition leaders wish to discuss the situation with the ICTU indicates the seriousness with which the Government regards the present crisis over public sector pay, which threatens to engulf teachers, civil servants and other groups, as well as nurses. The ICTU is expected to agree to the request when it is received.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Health, Mr Noonan, has said he is inviting the nursing unions to meet him directly and discuss why the nurses rejected what he believes is a very good pay deal.
Earlier yesterday the four unions in the Nursing Alliance IMPACT, the Irish Nurses Organisation, SIPTU and the Psychiatric Nurses' Association announced the results of the ballot.
At a press conference yesterday to announce the result, the INO general secretary, Mr P.J. Madden, said the result "confirms the view of the nurses themselves, and their leaders, that the profession has, for far too long, been undervalued."