FULL RECOMMENDATION
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 2004 SECTION 26(1), INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT, 1990 PARTIES : UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL GALWAY (REPRESENTED BY HEALTH SERVICES EXECUTIVE-EMPLOYERS AGENCY) - AND - SERVICES INDUSTRIAL PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL UNION DIVISION : Chairman: Mr Duffy Employer Member: Mr Doherty Worker Member: Mr O'Neill |
1. (1) Two days off for CT on-call (2) up to 4 Scannogram payments per patient.
BACKGROUND:
2. The Union is in dispute with HSE West regarding two claims on behalf of 42 radiographers employed at the University College Hospital Galway (UCHG). The claims are for 2 days off in respect of 7 day CT on-call and the payment of up to 4 scannogram payments per patient.
The dispute could not be resolved at local level and was the subject of a Conciliation Conference under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission. As agreement was not reached, the dispute was referred to the Labour Court on the 26th July, 2007 in accordance with Section 26(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990. A Labour Court hearing took place on the 12th December, 2007.
UNION'S ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. At present Radiographers could be required to make themselves available continuously for up to 19 days and to be within a 30 minute time-frame radius of the UCHG while on call.Other comparable hospitals have recognised the need for rest periods for radiographers who provide on-call arrangements.
2The present fee per patient payment should be replaced by up to 4 scannograms per patient as offered by Management elsewhere within the HSE.
COMPANY'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1. Any additional time off would have resource implications and unless there were agreed at National level through the IR Industrial Relations Process they would not be resourced or funded.
2. In relation to CT scanning, Management have already agreed to increase the fee from 1 scannogram payment currently per patient to a maximum of 2 scannograms per patient. The National Hospitals Office have directed that UCHG must 'live' within its budget allocation as already there is an expected budget deficit in excess of €10m for 2008.
RECOMMENDATION:
Time -Off
The Court does not consider it desirable to address the question of time off on an ad hoc or location by location basis. Rather, the question should be addressed on a national basis through the appropriate industrial relations processes.
The Court recommends that the parties should now commence discussions on this matter at national level. The object of these discussions should be to agree a clear and uniform arrangements to apply to all hospitals under the control of the HSE-EA.
Scannogram Payments.
The Court recommends that the HSE-EA improve its offer from one to up to three payments per patient.
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
Kevin Duffy
7th. January, 2008.______________________
JF.Chairman
NOTE
Enquiries concerning this Recommendation should be addressed to John Foley, Court Secretary.