Harney to address SIPTU nurses at annual conference

Minister for Health Mary Harney is due to address nurses with the SIPTU trade union at their annual conference in Mayo this evening.

SIPTU says its members will work normally during the dispute led by the two main nurses' unions.

But, it says, it will not do anything to compromise the INO and PNA campaign for better pay and conditions.

About 200 SIPTU nurses meet in Castlebar tonight.

Their union has already said reports that non-nursing SIPTU members - employed in the health sector - are also looking for a 35-hour working week are "inaccurate".

The Irish Nurses Organisation - one of the main unions involved in the nurses' dispute - has described reports of a fresh demand by hospital craft workers, such as porters, as "unhelpful".

SIPTU says it has not lodged any new claims in the health service.

It says it has been pursuing its demand for a 35-hour-week for all its health service members - including nurses - through benchmarking since 1980.

But the union says it is renewing its call on health service employers and the Government to engage with all the nurses' unions to find a way to bring in a shorter working week.