Labour Court Database __________________________________________________________________________________ File Number: CD91570 Case Number: LCR13629 Section / Act: S20(1) Parties: SOUTHERN HEALTH BOARD - and - FOURTEEN AMBULANCE DRIVERS |
Dispute concerning the implementation of a new roster.
Recommendation:
5. Having regard to the submissions made by the parties and
particularly in view of the fact that additional personnel are
being recruited the Court does not recommend any amendment to the
rosters as introduced by the Board.
Division: Mr O'Connell Mr Collins Mr Rorke
Text of Document__________________________________________________________________
CD91570 RECOMMENDATION NO. LCR13629
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1990
SECTION 20(1), INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT 1969
PARTIES: SOUTHERN HEALTH BOARD
and
FOURTEEN AMBULANCE DRIVERS
SUBJECT:
1. Dispute concerning the implementation of a new roster.
BACKGROUND:
2. Prior to the introduction of a 39 hour week the ambulance
drivers in the Southern Health Board area operated a 10 week
roster. With the implementation of the 39 hour week the Board
reached an agreement with S.I.P.T.U. on a revised 11 week roster
(details of both rosters supplied to the Court). The workers
concerned claimed that the roster was unfair in that it
substantially increased their workload and also the amount of
unsocial hours worked. Management rejected the claim. The
workers referred the issue to a Rights Commissioner for
investigation but the Board objected to such an investigation.
The workers then referred the dispute to the Labour Court under
Section 20(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1969 and agreed to
be bound by the Court's recommendation. The Court investigated
the dispute in Cork on the 25th March, 1992.
WORKER'S ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. In 1988 the ambulance drivers in Cork City had a staff
compliment of 26 full-time permanent personnel plus 4
full-time relief personnel to cover city and outlying areas.
The drivers worked a 13 week roster (13x2 man crews) and
worked 7 weekends in 13 (8 hour shifts). Subsequently the
Board reduced staff numbers and changed the roster to a 10
week roster even though the workers still did the same amount
of work. The workers concerned objected to the change to no
avail. In trying to implement the 10 week roster the Board
were faced with the problem of drivers still having to work 7
weekends in a 10 week cycle. Subsequently the Board agreed a
roster with S.I.P.T.U. which included 12 hour shifts. The
1988 roster caused an increase of 13% in weekend work. The
effect of the roster introduced in 1991 by agreement with
S.I.P.T.U. made rosters more different and increased weekend
work by a further 16%.
2. The roster introduced in July, 1991 and agreed by
S.I.P.T.U. which represents only 11 ambulance drivers
(representing 44% of crews in Cork City) was not acceptable to
the 14 full-time permanent workers (56% of the crews in Cork
City). The roster is not acceptable because it increases the
number of weekends to be worked by 5 per year and it increases
shift working. The roster also increases shifts from 4 to 5
shifts. It increases Saturday/Sunday attendance which was
already increased by 13% in 1988. The workers concerned
accept that there must be a reasonable balance between the
service and the ability of the workers concerned to maintain a
high standard in a very stressful working environment.
Management has not considered the roster problem in an
objective manner. No other group in the Southern Health Board
area have such a poor roster. The Board wish to retain the
same cover while progressively making working rosters more
onerous. The workers concerned consider that any reasonable
approaches should be jointly examined by Management,
S.I.P.T.U. and the non-union crews. The workers concerned do
not want negotiating rights, but their justified grievance
could be resolved by more flexible attitudes, communication
and ideas.
BOARD'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1. In considering the introduction of a 39 hour week the
Board reviewed the staffing situation in the City ambulance
service which heretofore was a 10 week 2 man crew roster
involving 20 ambulance drivers. In introducing the 11 week
roster 2 additional posts were created. The cost to the
Board, allowing for the 39 week funding, is in excess of
£21,000. There has been no major change for individual
ambulance drivers as a result of the revised roster. It
should be noted that the workers concerned are paid an agreed
shift allowance and receive generous premium payments for
Sundays/Public Holidays.
2. The new roster was agreed in July, 1991, following
protracted negotiations and discussions with the Union
catering for ambulance drivers in the Southern Health Board
area. All of the ambulance drivers were fully aware of the
position. Part of the agreement stipulated that accumulated
time off was allowed and premium payments were adjusted to
allow for the implementation of the 39 hour week as from 1st
July, 1990. The new arrangement created 2 additional posts in
the context of the 39 hour week. The Board also proposes to
recruit additional personnel in the immediate future. The
Board requests the Court to uphold the terms of the agreement
made between the Board and S.I.P.T.U.
RECOMMENDATION:
5. Having regard to the submissions made by the parties and
particularly in view of the fact that additional personnel are
being recruited the Court does not recommend any amendment to the
rosters as introduced by the Board.
~
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
John O'Connell
________________________
14th April, 1992. Deputy Chairman
T.O'D./J.C.
Note
Enquiries concerning this Recommendation should be addressed to
Mr. Tom O'Dea, Court Secretary.