A planned strike at the Mater private hospital in Dublin has been called off following talks at the Labour Realtions Commission.
Members of Siptu and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) were due to take part in the strike which was to begin tomorrow.
However, in a statement issued this afternoon, the hospital said that it had agreed a basis for further discussions with unions which will take place over the coming weeks in relation to its cost savings plan.
According to unions, hospital management has agreed to restore pay scales and allowances withdrawn unilaterally at the beginning of January while talks continue to address other issues.
The hospital is seeking to introduce reductions in pay of between 4 and 5 per cent for staff.
The Mater has maintained that in addition to the recession, it has also had to deal with cutbacks in the VHI’s budget and the National Treatment Purchase Fund’s budget, as well as reductions in public health spending in the Republic and Northern Ireland.
Elsewhere, strike notice has been served on the Bon Secours group for February 8th and will be served shortly on the Mount Carmel group over unilateral reductions in pay imposed on staff.
