10^th January 2005 

The Health Service Executive South East Region is surprised and disappointed by the decision of the PNA to take industrial action today at South Tipperary Mental Health Services. 

On the recommendation of the Labour Relations Commission in March 2003 it was agreed by the SEHB management (now Health Service Executive South East Region) and the PNA that a range of issues of concern to the PNA and Management in South Tipperary Mental Health Services would be addressed by way of a facilitation process by a mutually agreed third party. 

All of the issues raised by the PNA were addressed in that process and agreement was reached on how each issue would be dealt with. This Agreement was signed off by the negotiating group in December, 2003 and presented to and accepted by the union. 

Throughout 2004 strenuous efforts were made to implement the agreement. Local union management meetings resumed under independent chairmanship. By the end of 2004 almost all of the issues had been dealt with or were in the process of being dealt with to the declared satisfaction of both union and management representatives. 

The Senior Nurse Manager referred to in the PNA statement signalled her intention to return to work on a phased basis from the first week in December.  The PNA responded that if this happened there would be industrial action.  

In an effort to avoid the threatened action a meeting was arranged with the PNA on the 7^th January again under independent chairmanship. The PNA position remained that the only circumstances under which they would suspend or withdraw the threatened action was if the Senior Nurse Manager was prevented from returning to work in South Tipperary Mental Health Services. The management group could not agree to this and the talks ended without resolution. The management team requested and continue to request that the issue be referred to the LRC. 

Emergency cover is being provided by the PNA.