The Labour Relations Commission has agreed to intervene in a dispute over proposed job cuts between the Western Health Board and the IMPACT trade union.
In a statement tonight, the union said it contacted the LRC and requested it intervene "because it had no confidence in further direct discussions with the Board, which has pushed through cuts in staff and services while talks were still underway".
The union said the board had agreed to talks but that cuts in services and staff "were not negotiable". The union also disputed that the proposed job cuts affected only IMPACT members.
The union has instructed its members not to co-operate with the shedding of 169 mainly clerical and administrative jobs.
The WHB proposed the cuts to achieve savings under the Government's cost-saving programme. The board has been ordered to make savings of €1.15 million by the Department of Health.
Under the current board proposals, Mayo will lose 41 posts, Roscommon 15.5 and Galway 112.5.
Eighty-one will go from acute services in hospital and primary care, 40 from community services, 34 from mental health and older people, 3.5 from corporate affairs, and 10.5 from Central Services and headquarters.
In total 116 clerical, management and administrative jobs will go, mostly clerical.
Forty-seven support positions will remain unfilled when current contracts expire, as will 2.5 nursing posts and 3.5 paramedical workers.