Labour Court Database __________________________________________________________________________________ File Number: CD89187 Case Number: LCR12311 Section / Act: S67 Parties: OUR LADY'S HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN - and - IRISH TRANSPORT AND GENERAL WORKERS' UNION |
The performance by household staff of duties relating to the provision of refreshments at management/research meetings.
Recommendation:
3. The immediate cause of this dispute is the refusal by certain
of the staff to prepare and deliver trolleys of tea/coffee and
light refreshments to occasional management/research meetings.
The management insist on their right to decide who should perform
these duties and have decided that the household staff in the
kitchen should do them.
The household staff in the kitchen are already involved as part of
their normal work in preparing other trolleys with food and it
does not appear to the Court that there is sufficient reason for
the staff to continue to refuse to carry out these duties and it
is, of itself, certainly not sufficient reason to take industrial
action.
There are, apparently, other reasons behind the dispute but it
would not be possible for the Court, the management or the union
to do anything to resolve those issues during the present strike.
This can best be done once the immediate issue is resolved.
The Court therefore recommends:-
1. The suspension should be lifted with immediate effect.
2. The union should accept that the preparation and
delivery of trolleys to management meetings should be
accepted as part of the duties of the kitchen household
staff.
3. A working party composed of representatives of the
management, the Department of Health, ICTU, and the
trade unions in the Hospital should be established with
an independent Chairman to draw up proposals for the
improvement of industrial relations generally in the
hospital.
This recommendation should be subject to an immediate ballot of
all ITGUW members in the employment of the Hospital.
Division: CHAIRMAN Mr Shiel Mr O'Murchu
Text of Document__________________________________________________________________
CD89187 RECOMMENDATION NO. LCR12311
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1976
SECTION 67
PARTIES: OUR LADY'S HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN
and
IRISH TRANSPORT AND GENERAL WORKERS' UNION
SUBJECT:
1. The performance by household staff of duties relating to the
provision of refreshments at management/research meetings.
BACKGROUND:
2. Following disagreement between management and household staff
on this issue, the workers, on 9th February, 1989, refused to
carry out the duties concerned. A Labour Court conciliation
conference failed to resolve the matter. On 22nd February,
management issued notice of suspension to 6 workers with effect
from 28th February, 1989. Strike notice was served by the Union
and pickets were placed on the hospital on 1st March. A Labour
Court conciliation conference took place on 4th March. No
progress being made, the matter was the subject of a full Court
hearing under Section 18 of the Industrial Relations Act, 1969 on
5th March, 1989. The following is the Court's recommendation.
RECOMMENDATION:
3. The immediate cause of this dispute is the refusal by certain
of the staff to prepare and deliver trolleys of tea/coffee and
light refreshments to occasional management/research meetings.
The management insist on their right to decide who should perform
these duties and have decided that the household staff in the
kitchen should do them.
The household staff in the kitchen are already involved as part of
their normal work in preparing other trolleys with food and it
does not appear to the Court that there is sufficient reason for
the staff to continue to refuse to carry out these duties and it
is, of itself, certainly not sufficient reason to take industrial
action.
There are, apparently, other reasons behind the dispute but it
would not be possible for the Court, the management or the union
to do anything to resolve those issues during the present strike.
This can best be done once the immediate issue is resolved.
The Court therefore recommends:-
1. The suspension should be lifted with immediate effect.
2. The union should accept that the preparation and
delivery of trolleys to management meetings should be
accepted as part of the duties of the kitchen household
staff.
3. A working party composed of representatives of the
management, the Department of Health, ICTU, and the
trade unions in the Hospital should be established with
an independent Chairman to draw up proposals for the
improvement of industrial relations generally in the
hospital.
This recommendation should be subject to an immediate ballot of
all ITGUW members in the employment of the Hospital.
~
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
John M Horgan
14th March, 1989 -------------
A.K./U.S. Chairman