INDUSTRIAL action by the country's 26,000 nurses appears to be unavoidable, a spokeswoman for the Nursing Alliance said yesterday.
Speaking in Galway, where over 450 nurses were to attend a rally last night, Ms Lenore Mrkwicka said: "Subject to ballot requirements, the campaign of industrial action will begin with two day work stoppages on a regional basis in all acute hospitals beginning on March 12th unless a meaningful offer is tabled soon by the Government. There has been no indication of possible talks."
A 15 year campaign had been waged against nurses being "underpaid, with no differentials and no proper career structures," she said.
The assistant general secretary of the Irish Nurses' Organisation added that unity of purpose was strengthening with the staging of regional rallies.