A major breakthrough in talks on the nurses' pay dispute was achieved last night at Government Buildings when the nursing unions agreed to refer a new framework for negotiations to their members for consideration, writes Padraig Yeates, Industry and Employment Correspondent.
The executive of the Irish Nurses' Organisation, which represents 75 per cent of Irish nurses, will meet later today to consider the proposals.
A twin track approach is to be adopted towards resolving the complex issues involved. Some of these will be negotiated in the traditional manner at local level, while others will be referred to the new arbitration system agreed by the Government and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions last month.
The executive of the nursing unions will also have to consider whether the progress made in the talks is sufficient to defer the national strike on which members are current balloting.
The strike is due to begin on July 15th.
A joint Government/ICTU statement issued last night indicated that "progress had been made". The two side had spent some 29 hours in secret talks at Government Buildings over the past two days.
