Nurses Talks To Begin

Nurses and health service employers are to begin talks today under the aegis of the National Implementation Body. The discussions will centre on demands by nurses for a ten per cent pay increase and a reduction in their working week.

A work-to-rule at hospitals, which was due to begin in the morning, has been deferred to allow the talks to take place. Liam Doran of Irish Nurses Organisation says all issues are now table.

“We’ve always wanted a 35 hour week for nurses,” he said. “We’ve wanted a pay anomaly addressed. We’ve wanted parity of esteem for nurses from other health service professionals. All those things are up for discussion and we’re going to commence them on Monday. We expect good faith all round. We’re showing good faith by deferring any industrial action. And we’ll start in earnest on Monday.”