THE Psychiatric Nurses’ Association is to consider all-out strike following the failure of benchmarking to deliver any pay increase for the bulk of its members.

THE country’s 25,000 staff nurses and midwives have come away empty-handed from the benchmarking process, prompting a furious reaction from unions.

THEY abandoned a bitter seven-week dispute on the eve of last year’s general election on a promise that the Public Service Benchmarking Body (PSBB) was the only show in town.

TEACHERS were some of the biggest winners in the last benchmarking process but most of them are suffering the same disappointment as their fellow public servants this time around.

Public service unions were tonight furious that an independent benchmarking body recommended little or no pay rises for their workers.

A LABOUR Court ruling has found the Health Service Executive (HSE) guilty of indirectly discriminating against women by paying female nurse managers less than men doing jobs of equal value.

CIVIL and public service workers will learn this week whether they are to get further pay increases.

The second report of the Public Service Benchmarking Body is due out later this week. Even the unions concerned have prudently been talking down expectations in view of the current economic slowdown.

ONE of the country’s longest-serving trade union leaders has attacked the social partnership pay deal process and called for a major overhaul.

THE Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) and the Psychiatric Nurses Association have announced that they will escalate their industrial action on Wednesday of next week with rolling stoppages around the country in support of their demands for a pay increase of 10% and a 35-hour working week.

JUNIOR doctors are seeking an overall pay increase of 20%, claiming their earnings will drop by up to one-third when European Union legislation banning their long working hours is fully introduced and their traditional overtime earnings cut.

A LEADING solicitor has warned that failure to streamline and simplify the disciplinary codes for public sector employees will make meaningful performance management reviews of these organisations impossible.

FINANCE MINISTER Brian Cowen has announced the formal establishment of the Public Service Benchmarking body.

THE quality of school education in the future could be put in major jeopardy if teachers’ pay packages are not properly improved, a union leader warned at the weekend.

HOSPITAL consultants are due to seek pay increases of well over 10% from the State, arguing that their pay rates have dropped significantly in comparison with similar professional ranks.

TDs will have received an 84% wage hike over five years by 2005, with their pay rising €42,000 over that period.