The IMPACT trade union has served notice for a series of strikes by 16,000 members who work in the health sector, in support of pay increases for temporary and part-time workers. The first strike is scheduled for March 22nd.
In another indication of spreading industrial action, the Psychiatric Nurses' Association (PNA) is balloting 4,500 members on industrial action because of what it claims is a breach of commitments given to nurses in the settlement of their national strike.
Finally, the Irish Medical Organisation has warned that if progress is not made in talks due next Wednesday on non-consultant hospital doctors' pay, it will also be taking industrial action.
IMPACT has served strike notice in support of health workers in paramedic, clerical, administrative and other grades. The union's officer, Mr Kevin Callinan, says members are angry at the lack of progress in talks.
The staff concerned cannot progress beyond the fifth point of the incremental scale. This means, for instance, that a temporary or part-time clerical officer cannot earn more than £12,091 a year, although the top of the scale is £17,988.
The general secretary of the PNA, Mr Des Kavanagh, said the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness broke a commitment given to nurses that pay rates for promotional grades would be reviewed in any successor to Partnership 2000. Mr Kavanagh called for immediate payment of £1,000 a year to nurses in the grades concerned as an indication of good faith by the Government.
The IMO has given the Health Service Employers' Agency until St Patrick's Day to come up with a satisfactory pay formula.