There is growing pessimism that the talks between nursing unions and health service management over claims for improved pay and conditions will be able to avert a threatened work-to-rule by 40,000 nurses, which could begin from Monday. Martin Wallreports.
Informed sources said while the talks had not broken down, a major gap remained between the parties over the issues of pay and the introduction of a reduced working week for nurses.
The talks between nursing unions and health service employers, which are being held under the aegis of the National Implementation Body - the main trouble-shooting mechanism under the social partnership process - were adjourned yesterday afternoon and will resume this afternoon.
The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) and the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) are seeking a 10 per cent pay increase, a 35- hour week and a special allowance for staff working in Dublin.
The unions have said they will implement plans for a national work-to-rule from Monday if agreement is not reached. However, it is understood that the parties are divided over how a 35- hour week could be implemented, as well as on the issue of pay.
Management sources have alleged that there has been no real movement on the part of the INO and PNA during the talks.
The row over the opening of a new maternity hospital in Cork is also understood to have overshadowed the talks to some degree.
It is understood that management has insisted that the issue of pay could only be dealt with in the overall public service benchmarking process. The nursing unions are opposed to taking their pay claim to benchmarking and have expressed little confidence in the process.
Management has also maintained that the reduction in working hours could only be addressed as part of an overall deal on productivity and changed work practices. It is understood that the nursing unions are seeking a definite date for the introduction of the proposed shorter week.
Management is believed to have said that the implications of such a move across the wider health service and its impact on staffing levels and patient safety would have to be independently examined. It is thought to have argued that the implementation of the 35-hour week could take some time.
If the work -to-rule goes ahead from Monday, the INO and the PNA will introduce a ban on nurses carrying out all clerical/administrative/IT duties. Nursing and midwifery notes would be maintained manually. There would also be a ban on the attendance at local, regional and national meetings, except those involving the consideration of named individual patients/ clients, their welfare and case management.
There would also be a prohibition on all telephone work except that deemed essential on clinical grounds by the nurse/midwife, and there would be a ban on nurses opening in the morning or securing in the evening community-based buildings and facilities.