A threatened strike by 32,000 manual workers in health boards, hospitals and local authorities is likely to be averted following the intervention yesterday of the Labour Court.
The strike, which would have hit hospital, sewage and water treatment services throughout the State, was due to begin on Monday.
Hopes of averting the action rose dramatically yesterday when the craft group of unions at the centre of the dispute agreed to ballot its 4,500 members on new settlement proposals put forward by the chairman of the Labour Court, Ms Evelyn Owens.
The craft workers' strike will be deferred in the meantime.
Further talks will take place today at the Labour Relations Commission between SIPTU, representing the remaining 27,500 general operatives involved, and employer representatives. Management and union sources were optimistic last night that a similar result could be achieved at today's meeting and the strike deferred.
The craft workers had voted by 20 to one for strike action after rejecting a Labour Court recommendation of an £18.87 a week pay increase. They had been seeking a rise of £25.26.
In its new recommendation the court has again proposed an £18.87 rise, but with an additional 2 per cent under the terms of Partnership 2000. This element was originally intended to be part of the overall increase. Another new aspect is that £12 of the increase is to be backdated to July 1st last year.
The recommendation was accepted by the employers' body, the Local Government Management Services Board.
General operatives say they are entitled to 80 per cent of any award given to craft workers, and this is not disputed by management. However these workers have a number of other concerns which have still to be addressed. They will seek assurances today that any concessions which have been offered to craft workers in the non-pay areas, such as extra uncertified sick pay, will also apply to them.
In the unlikely event that talks break down today, Monday's strike could still go ahead. All local authority services would be affected, but Dublin city and the three Dublin county authorities would suffer less as their staff are covered by separate pay agreements.
In a separate dispute, 600 nurses at Waterford Regional Hospital have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action in support of improved staffing levels. The action is due to commence in mid-May, subject to the approval of the Irish Nursing Organisation's executive council.