THE "vast majority" of nurses at a regional meeting in Galway voted to postpone the strike, according to the chairwoman of the strike committee at the city's University College Hospital, Ms Pam Davis.
She said nurses at the meeting were furious at SIPTU's unilateral decision to pull back from the strike. But the Labour Court recommendation of a commission to examine wages and conditions was the most significant factor in their final decision.
"We have sought a commission for years and years ... The PNR, the PCW, the PESP, they all promised them, but never delivered on it. The Labour Court is a more dependable body than any government, to us. We have never had access to it before."
However, Ms Tina Howard from University College Hospital said nurses at the meeting were "outraged" at SIPTU's stance.
"The commission has been dangled as a carrot in front of us, and we want that for the future. But what should have equal status in this pay claim is that fact that nurses want a decent early retirement deal." Few nurses in Castlebar would qualify under present terms, she said.