BOTH sides in the paramedics dispute have been asked to make submissions to the Labour Court this afternoon in a renewed effort to end the strike which has affected childcare and health services for the past week.
The paramedics' union, IMPACT, will be seeking confirmation of their historic pay link with nurses, while health managers will be hoping that the court upholds the "unique" nature of the nurses settlement.
The court's £87 million award to nurses averted a strike that would have closed much of the health services two months ago. The award was twice the public service pay awards under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work.
Whatever the court's findings, they will be scrutinised by other public service workers, especially the 2,000 radiographers and laboratory technicians who are currently balloting on strike action in pursuit of a similar claim to the paramedics.
Agreement by the Government to allow the case to be referred so early to the Labour Court shows it is anxious to resolve the dispute quickly. The arbitration will be nonbinding but it would be difficult for the Government to reject the court's findings. Effectively, it is asking the court to determine public service pay policy.
It would also be difficult for IMPACT to reject any Labour Court recommendation and retain the public support it has enjoyed.