INO warns work stoppages in absence of HSE offer

THE Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) has said nurses will return to work stoppages after the weekend if the Health Service Executive does not make it a satisfactory offer at 3pm this afternoon.

When the two sides meet at Government buildings the offer which is expected to be forthcoming from the HSE is expected to be in relation to the unions’ demand for a reduction to a 35 hour week.

If that does not drive the two sides apart immediately, they will also discuss union demands for better pay.

The pay claim has yet to be discussed in detail at these talks which came about after the national implementation body brokered enough agreement between the two sides to convince unions to suspend a planned escalation of one-hour work stoppages in over 50 hospitals around the country.

Brendan Mulligan of the HSE employers agency has said health employers are willing to have a two-phased approach to reduce hours for nurses in return for greater productivity and payroll savings.

Unions have confirmed unless agreement can be reached over this weekend the INO and Psychiatric Nurse Association will return to work stoppages.

Dave Hughes of the INO said last night: “They will definitely make an offer on the hours tomorrow. We do not know what they will do on pay.

“The question is whether the offer will be enough.”

He said some progress had been made between the two sides but it was fair to say that unless the offer from the HSE came up to scratch the work stoppages would resume next week.