Labour Court Database __________________________________________________________________________________ File Number: CD94730 Case Number: LCR14691 Section / Act: S20(1) Parties: SOUTHERN HEALTH BOARD - and - TWELVE WORKERS;AND 11 OTHER WORKERS |
Introduction of a new roster.
Recommendation:
10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. Monday to
Friday
One crew - 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. at
weekends
The 12-week roster has an extra crew on duty from 5.00 p.m. to
midnight, Monday to Friday. Some day shifts were extended by an
hour.
The workers concerned claim that the new roster is unfair. The
dispute was referred to the Labour Court by the 12 workers on 21st
December, 1994, under Section 20(1) of the Industrial Relations
Act, 1969. A Labour Court hearing took place on 8th February,
1995, in Cork.
WORKERS' ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. The 1987 roster introduced by the Board caused an
increase in anti-social weekend work of 13%. The introduction
of the 39 hour week increased weekend work by an extra 5 weeks
per year.
2. In the ballot on the September, 1994, roster, only 4
permanently rostered men were in favour of the new proposals.
Of the 9 men who voted in favour, 5 were relief drivers. A
total of 18 permanently rostered drivers - including the
workers concerned - were against the new roster.
3. Weekend work has increased by 40% since 1988. There is
only a #5 Saturday allowance. Loss of overtime is
approximately #1,650 per year as a result of the loss of
earnings on the on-call shift.
BOARD'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1. The new 12-week roster was agreed with S.I.P.T.U. in
September, 1994. On-call cover was reduced from 99 hours per
crew over the 11-week roster to 70 hours over the 12-week
roster. Workers are paid an agreed shift allowance and also
premium payments for week-end and public holiday duty.
2. The workers concerned have been to the Labour Court
twice before with similar disputes, (ref. Labour Court
Recommendations LCR13629 and LCR13832). On both occasions the
Court found in favour of the Board.
RECOMMENDATION:
5. Having given consideration to the submissions of both parties,
the Court considers that the agreement reached with the Union on
the change of rosters was reasonable in the circumstances,
particularly as it involves an increase in employment, and
accordingly rejects the claims made by this group of workers.
The Court so recommends
Division: Ms Owens Mr McHenry Mr Rorke
Text of Document__________________________________________________________________
CD94730 RECOMMENDATION NO. LCR14691
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1990
SECTION 20(1), INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT, 1969
PARTIES: SOUTHERN HEALTH BOARD
and
TWELVE WORKERS
SUBJECT:
1. Introduction of a new roster.
BACKGROUND:
2. The dispute concerns the introduction of a new roster for
ambulance drivers.
3. In 1978, the ambulance service in Cork City operated on a 13-
week roster. This involved 26 drivers of 2-man crews on a regular
roster and 5 permanent relief drivers. During 1987, the roster
reduced to a 10-week cycle of 20 drivers on the regular roster and
5 permanent relief drivers.
4. In 1991, the 39 hour week was introduced to the ambulance
service. The regular roster increased from 20 to 22 regular
drivers on an 11-week cycle.
5. A number of meetings took place between the Board and Services
Industrial Professional Technical Union (S.I.P.T.U.). The twelve
workers concerned, who are not members of a Union, were not
involved. An agreement between the Board and Union introduced the
present roster which has an additional 2 posts in a 12-week
roster. The 11-week roster was broken down as follows:-
Night Duty Two crews - 8.00 p.m. to 8.00 a.m. each night
Day Duty: Two crews - 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. each day
One crew - 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Monday to
Friday
One crew - 11.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. Monday to
Friday
or
10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. Monday to
Friday
One crew - 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. at
weekends
The 12-week roster has an extra crew on duty from 5.00 p.m. to
midnight, Monday to Friday. Some day shifts were extended by an
hour.
The workers concerned claim that the new roster is unfair. The
dispute was referred to the Labour Court by the 12 workers on 21st
December, 1994, under Section 20(1) of the Industrial Relations
Act, 1969. A Labour Court hearing took place on 8th February,
1995, in Cork.
WORKERS' ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. The 1987 roster introduced by the Board caused an
increase in anti-social weekend work of 13%. The introduction
of the 39 hour week increased weekend work by an extra 5 weeks
per year.
2. In the ballot on the September, 1994, roster, only 4
permanently rostered men were in favour of the new proposals.
Of the 9 men who voted in favour, 5 were relief drivers. A
total of 18 permanently rostered drivers - including the
workers concerned - were against the new roster.
3. Weekend work has increased by 40% since 1988. There is
only a #5 Saturday allowance. Loss of overtime is
approximately #1,650 per year as a result of the loss of
earnings on the on-call shift.
BOARD'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1. The new 12-week roster was agreed with S.I.P.T.U. in
September, 1994. On-call cover was reduced from 99 hours per
crew over the 11-week roster to 70 hours over the 12-week
roster. Workers are paid an agreed shift allowance and also
premium payments for week-end and public holiday duty.
2. The workers concerned have been to the Labour Court
twice before with similar disputes, (ref. Labour Court
Recommendations LCR13629 and LCR13832). On both occasions the
Court found in favour of the Board.
RECOMMENDATION:
5. Having given consideration to the submissions of both parties,
the Court considers that the agreement reached with the Union on
the change of rosters was reasonable in the circumstances,
particularly as it involves an increase in employment, and
accordingly rejects the claims made by this group of workers.
The Court so recommends
~
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
Evelyn Owens
28th February, 1995 --------------
C O'N/U.S. Chairman
NOTE:
ENQUIRIES CONCERNING THIS RECOMMENDATION SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO
MR CIARAN O'NEILL, COURT SECRETARY.