Nurses and midwives tonight vowed to escalate their campaign of industrial action against Government cuts.
The national executive of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) unanimously voted to support a protest alongside public service unions which could cripple services in the country.
It is believed the dispute will result in the country being split in to five regions with angry workers protesting in each area on a different day of the week.
Education, health and local authority offices and services would all be hit by the rolling work stoppages.
IMNO general secretary Liam Doran said its national executive was satisfied members nationwide remain fully prepared to escalate industrial action.
“It is our view this escalation must involve strike action including the withdrawal of labour and should be commenced as soon as possible,” said Mr Doran.
The campaign against the one billion euro public sector pay cut hit health services in the Dublin North East region today with staff refusing to answer telephone for four hours.
Impact trade union members working in health, welfare, local government and education began to implement additional measures yesterday.
As part of rolling action, telephones across the HSE in Dublin and the northeast were not be answered by members between 9am and 1pm today.
This action will alternate tomorrow to the HSE west, the HSE south on Thursday, and Dublin and mid-Leinster on Friday.
The union has agreed to provide essential cover for emergency services.
The action came as 83 per cent of members of the Civil, Public and Services Union (CPSU) voted to strike in protest at pay cuts. The CPSU is the first union to vote for strike action since the Government cut public service pay in the budget.
Unions are expected to finalise a plan of action at a meeting of the public services committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions next Monday.
Mr Doran warned Government must reverse pay cuts, make guarantees over future pay, protect existing pension entitlements and protect job security, including the removal of the threat of outsourcing.
“My executive council is also of the view that this campaign must be escalated to secure a shift in approach, from this government, towards its employees, our members,” he continued.
“The government must be persuaded that this campaign will continue, and be escalated still further, unless and until it comes back to the negotiating table.”
Additional reporting PA