SIPTU nurses in Galway's two hospitals, UCHG and Merlin Park, have threatened industrial action this month if the Western Health Board (WHB) does not implement elements of the pay deal agreed after the national nurses' strike in 1999.
A nursing representative, Ms Helen Murphy, said nursing posts had not been upgraded, incremental credits for all grades had not been implemented and lump sums of more than £1,000 had not been paid.
"The health board does not seem to take it seriously that nurses are so angry. The only way to make them see is industrial action. We do not seem to be left with any choice," said Ms Murphy.
"Unless there is movement by next week, we will be meeting to ballot members up to and including full-scale industrial action by nurses in the city hospitals. We will then issue the health board with the mandatory notice which could see possible industrial action by the end of this month."
In a statement the WHB said: "A Galway regional hospitals committee was established to build on the partnership deal and to establish strong working relationships with all of the partners involved in the delivery of healthcare in Galway regional hospitals."
The statement also claimed that at a meeting on December 13th all involved "were assured that these matters were being actively dealt with. There is a well-established machinery for the resolution of any concerns of SIPTU regarding their particular members. The hospital management is available at all times to give any assistance required in dealing with these matters."
There have been problems implementing the 1999 Labour Court settlement of the nurses' strike at some hospitals. However, these have been largely resolved outside Galway.