Labour Court Database __________________________________________________________________________________ File Number: CD89442 Case Number: LCR12463 Section / Act: S67 Parties: ST. VINCENTS HOSPITAL - and - IRISH TRANSPORT AND GENERAL WORKERS' UNION |
Staffing arrangements in the stores area.
Recommendation:
5. The Court recommends that the range of duties of the assistant
supplies officer proposed by Management be accepted by the stores
staff and that this flexible arrangement be operated for an
initial trial period of six months.
Division: Mr O'Connell Mr Shiel Mr Devine
Text of Document__________________________________________________________________
CD89442 RECOMMENDATION NO. LCR12463
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1976
SECTION 67
PARTIES: ST. VINCENTS HOSPITAL
(REPRESENTED BY THE FEDERATED UNION OF EMPLOYERS)
and
IRISH TRANSPORT AND GENERAL WORKERS' UNION
SUBJECT:
1. Staffing arrangements in the stores area.
BACKGROUND:
2. Prior to 1987 the staffing level in the stores department of
the hospital was as follows:-
2 Supplies officers (storekeeper and assistant storekeeper)
3 Storemen (in receipt of an 8% differential above the basic
porters rate)
2 General porters (who make deliveries to various locations
around the hospital).
In 1987 the staff situation was changed due to the introduction of
computerisation, early retirements etc. One of the supplies
officers was moved out of the stores area and one of the porters
was assigned to other duties, leaving a revised staffing level
of:-
1 Supplies officer
3 Storemen
1 General porter.
In February, 1989 the hospital was instructed by the Department of
Health to accept the re-deployment of a supplies officer from the
Hospital Joint Services Board and he was assigned to the stores
area. Management then advised the Union that it wished to alter
working arrangements in the stores area. Previously one of the
three storemen, on a rotational basis, operated outside the stores
area to assist in the delivery of goods outside the hospital.
Under the new arrangements two storemen would be involved in the
outside deliveries while the new supplies officer would work with
the third storeman inside the stores area. No loss of earnings
would accrue as a result of the new work patterns and no extra
duty would be involved. The Union objected to the change because
it feared that the jobs of its members were in jeopardy. No
agreement could be reached in local level discussions and the
dispute was referred to the conciliation service of the Labour
Court on the 1st April, 1989. A conciliation conference was held
on the 25th April, 1989 but no agreement was reached. The dispute
was referred to the Labour Court for investigation and
recommendation on the 3rd June, 1989. A Court hearing was held on
30th June, 1989.
UNION'S ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. The Union has no objection to the appointment of the new
supplies officer provided that his duties are confined to
those of a supervisory and clerical nature. Storemen porters
are a recognised grade carrying a differential of 8% above
general porters and supplies officers in other hospitals don't
do work proper to storemen.
2. The Department of Health has advised the Union that the
Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital will close in 1990 and
staff will be transferred to St. Vincents Hospital. If the
Union accepted Management's present proposals they could have
serious repercussions for the jobs of the workers concerned
when this transfer takes place.
MANAGEMENT'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1. Throughout the hospital service the job of storekeeper
requires a flexible mix of manual and non-manual duties. The
workers concerned are reluctant to apply this flexible
approach. The hospital must reserve the right to deploy staff
as effectively as possible particularly in times of financial
and manpower constraint. It must be emphasised that there is
no change in duties, work content or earnings associated with
these arrangements.
2. Although the deployment of the supplies officer to St.
Vincents was not initiated by the hospital, the new staffing
arrangements are beneficial in terms of improved supervisory
structure and go some way towards re-introducing the structure
which existed prior to 1987. No valid reasons have been put
forward by the Union for refusing to co-operate with
Management's proposals.