Health employers are threatening to withhold a pay rise of 3 per cent from members of the Irish Nurses' Organisation (INO) and Psychiatric Nurses' Association (PNA) and have asked them to confirm in writing whether they are members of either union.
In a move branded as "unprecedented and provocative" by the INO, Brendan Mulligan of the HSE's employers' agency wrote to nursing managers around the country earlier this month, seeking written confirmation from their staff as to whether they are members of the INO or PNA.
The pay rise is due to be paid under the terms of the new social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, from next month.
In the letter, seen by The Irish Times, Mr Mulligan states that neither unions have confirmed acceptance of Towards 2016. As a result, their members will not receive the first general round pay increase due on December 1st, he states.
"It is now necessary for you to seek confirmation from nurses in your employment that he/she is not a member of either the INO or PNA," he states.
"This exercise should be completed by asking all nurses in your employment to complete the attached form and return to their payroll department. Only nurses who sign and return the attached form will be deemed eligible to receive payments under the agreement in the normal manner."
Mr Mulligan claimed yesterday it was the only legal way in which membership of both unions - and entitlement to the pay rise - could be established.
He said it was "regrettable" that the INO had written to some of its members advising them not to comply, and said even if Towards 2016 was ratified by the two unions, there was "no guarantee" that payments would be retrospective.
However, Liam Doran, general secretary of the INO, yesterday reacted angrily to the threatened withholding of the pay rise, which the INO says is a cost of living pay increase.
He said the union's legal representatives have sought clarification from employers on the matter. It has given employers seven days from last week to respond and would take the matter to the Labour Relations Commission if necessary.
"This is an unprecedented and provocative action by employers . . . it is a direct threat to trade union membership," he said. "The response from our members has been 'how dare they?' "
Earlier this week, both nursing unions revealed that they plan to ballot their 40,000 members next January on a campaign of phased industrial action over pay and conditions.