Talks in Mater dispute break down

Talks in Labour Relations Commission aimed at averting a dispute at the Mater Private hospital in Dublin have been unsuccessful.

Siptu and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) will now proceed with strike action planned for Monday.

Speaking at the LRC tonight union sources said insufficient progress was made during the talks to warrant calling off the strike.

The action comes in protest at moves by management to introduce pay cuts of between 4 and 5 per cent.

The hospital has maintained that in addition to the recession, it has also had to deal with cutbacks in the VHI’s budget and the National Treatment Purchase Fund’s budget as well as reductions in public health spending in the Republic and Northern Ireland.