More than 8,000 psychiatric nurses are to begin industrial action today in a dispute with the HSE over a compensation scheme set up for nurses in the psychiatric services who are injured at work.
The Psychiatric Nurses' Association (PNA) and Siptu, which represent the nurses, have described the scheme as totally inadequate.
A recent ballot carried out by the two unions voted by an overwhelming majority in favour of industrial action.
During the dispute, psychiatric nurses will refrain from doing overtime, and will also refuse to accompany patients to mental health tribunals or attend non-essential meetings.
Annoucing the industrial action last week, the PNA and Siptu said it was regrettable that it had to resort to resort to such measures but claimed that it had exhausted ever procedure in its bid to ensure better terms for its members.
"The HSE has conceded that a scheme should be put in place to compensate nurses. It is regrettable therefore that we have to resort to taking action to ensure that the terms of the scheme offer a decent level of compensation for nurses who are injured or assaulted at work," said Siptu's national nursing official, Louise O'Reilly.