IMPACT suspend industrial action in health service row

Peace has broken out in the row over reforms of the health service.

The trade union IMPACT has suspended its industrial action after a breakthrough in negotiations on jobs and working conditions.

Union members had been refusing to co-operate with preparations for the new Health Service Executive which takes over from the health boards on January 1.

National Secretary of IMPACT Kevin Callinan has said they can now commit to the new system with confidence.

Mr Callinan said: “We have detailed protection in relation to jobs and in relation to conditions, we also have a process which will deal with the very many issues which will arise going forward in the Health Service Executive and we feel we have made the vital breakthrough that has allowed us to suspend the action.”