Thousands of nurses have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action later this month.
Some 85 per cent of Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) members voted to support a mass day of action involving the withdrawal of labour, with the maintenance of all emergency services.
The INO, together with other health service unions, will meet health service employers on Thursday to begin the process of agreeing a contingency plan for the possible first day of action, which is scheduled for Tuesday, November 24th.
Speaking following today’s ballot result, INO general secretary Liam Doran said: “The strength of the mandate obtained today confirms the depth of anger and concern, amongst nurses and midwives, with regard to the threat of further cuts on their pay and conditions."
The Government has signalled it intends to cut about €4 billion from public spending next year, with €1.3bn coming from public sector pay.
Mr Doran said the INO, through its affiliation with Ictu, was in discussions with public sector employers to see if any acceptable agreement can be found.
"However the mandate obtained today will now ensure that the INO is fully involved, with all public sector trade unions, in whatever level, and duration, of industrial action is necessary to defend our members from any further,
unilateral, cuts in their pay and conditions of employment," he added.
Nurses staged a seven-week dispute in 2007 over pay and conditions which involved a work to rule and lunchtime protests.