FULL RECOMMENDATION
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 2004 SECTION 26(1), INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT, 1990 PARTIES : HEALTH SERVICES EXECUTIVE (HSE) - NORTH EAST - AND - AMALGAMATED TRANSPORT AND GENERAL WORKERS' UNION DIVISION : Chairman: Ms Jenkinson Employer Member: Mr Murphy Worker Member: Mr Nash |
1. Staffing levels in support services.
BACKGROUND:
2. The issue before the Court relates to a claim by the Union for additional staffing in the household services at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Co. Louth. Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital is part of the Louth/Meath Hospital Group. The Group incorporates hospitals at Drogheda, Dundalk and Navan. The Hospital provides a range of services in the acute hospital sector.
The Union is seeking to have existing vacancies filled within the Hospitals Employment Cap, which they say is 4.5 jobs.Due to the current financial position and the embargo on employment the HSE stated that it was not in a position to concede the Union’s claim. The HSE did, however, in an effort to address the concerns of the Support Services Staff, put forward a three-point proposal, which included replacement of three existing household vacancies and the use of contract cleaning services.
UNION'S ARGUMENTS:
3.1 Acute hospitals are now subject to periodic hygiene audits by an external assessor. These audits are very important and are seen as being pivotal to improving overall hygiene standards.
2. The Union put forward a plan to Management to create a dedicated cleaning unit within the Hospital (details supplied at hearing). The Union proposed that those who joined the two cleaning units would be replaced from within a pool of temporary workers who have been working within the hospital over a period of time and would require little or no training.
3. The Union maintains that this would greatly reduce Management's overuse of very expensive agency workers and outside contractors.
4. The Union stated that due to high levels of stress workers are under, due to the high rate of overtime, this reflects on the high levels of sick leave which are a huge burden on hospital resources and staff.
MANAGEMENT'S ARGUMENTS:
4.1 Management argues, following the introduction of the Dochas Centre and Area 4, contract cleaning was the only option given the cap on employment numbers and the financial constraints. The Union refused to co-operate with same. The only interim measure was to agree to have cleaning done on the basis of overtime working.
2. In an effort to address the dispute and following Conciliation talks, Management put forward a set of proposals for resolution. The clear intention was to redeploy cleaning posts in non-core areas to the main Hospital and to engage contract cleaners. This would reduce the pressure on existing household staff, reduce the need for overtime working and the savings accrued would cover the cost of contract cleaners without the need to increase staffing levels.
3. Management stated that sanction had been approved for 3 new cleaning posts. One post has already been filled, the other two posts will be filled by the end of August, 2006.
RECOMMENDATION:
The dispute before the Court concerns the Union’s claim on behalf of Support Services Staff for the filling of vacancies in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. The HSE stated that due to the current financial position and the embargo on employment it was not in a position to concede the Union’s claim. However, in an effort to address the concerns of the Support Services Staff, it put forward a three-point proposal, which included replacement of three existing household vacancies and the use of contract cleaning services.
Having given careful consideration to the circumstances prevailing in the Hospital, the Court recommends the following:
- -Replacement of the existing three household vacancies, filling of the additional portering post in the new Cardiology Unit and the replacement of the .5 portering post which arose due to the undertaking of a reduced hours arrangement, i.e. a total of 4.5 Support Services Staff posts.
-Introduction of contract cleaning in the Dochas Centre and in St. Theresa’s Building.
-Establishment of the proposed two dedicated cleaning teams to deal with the new Standards and Guidelines on Infection Control.
-Engagement by both parties in the Joint Problem Solving process to examine the reconfiguration of household service in the Hospital with a view to achieving efficiencies.
The Court so recommends.
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
Caroline Jenkinson
31st August, 2006______________________
JBDeputy Chairman
NOTE
Enquiries concerning this Recommendation should be addressed to Jackie Byrne, Court Secretary.