Concession to nurses could revive pay talks

An offer for nurses to retain double-time pay for working Sundays and holidays is understood to feature in a set of proposals tabled by health service management in an effort to progress Croke Park II among health workers.

It was reported last night that concessions had also been offered in relation to graduate nurses. Earlier this year, the Government came up with a “yellow pack” recruitment scheme offering new graduates 80% of the pay of qualified colleagues.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation organised a boycott of the scheme. It is understood new graduates will now be offered improved pay under the set of proposals. How-ever, nurses will be expected to work up to a 39-hour week in return for the concessions, which unions will have to put to members.