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Minister for Health and Children (Ms.
Harney)
The Irish Nurses Organisation and the
Psychiatric Nurses Association lodged a claim in December 2005 for a
reduction in the working week from 39 to 35 hours per week. The Unions
are seeking 39 hours pay for 35 hours work. It is estimated that an
additional 4,000 nurses would have to be recruited to maintain existing
levels of service if this claim were to be conceded. The increase in the
hourly rate would also lead to an increase in the cost of overtime,
premium pay and agency nurses. It is estimated that the additional cost
in nursing pay terms of conceding this claim would be approximately
€250m per annum. This figure does not include the additional
superannuation costs associated with employing 4,000 additional staff.
If additional suitably qualified staff were not available and the
shortfall had to be made up by the overtime and/or agency nursing the
costs would be even higher.
The majority of staff in the public health service - approximately
73,000 out of a total of 106,000 staff - currently work a 39 week.
Grades who work a 39 hour week include non consultant hospital doctors,
emergency medical technicians, social care professionals, health care
assistants, catering staff, engineering staff, and others. In the wider
public service, groups such as the gardai and prison officers work 39 or
more hours per week.
The claim for a reduction in the working week was one of eight claims
heard by the Labour Court on 20 June 2006. A Recommendation (LCR 18763)
issued on 9 November 2006. In relation to this claim the Court stated
that concession of this claim at this time would have profound
consequences for both health care delivery and costs unless effective
countervailing measures could be put in place. The Court did recommend
that the parties should jointly explore the possibility of initiating an
appropriate process aimed at achieving major reorganisation of working
arrangements and practices within the health service generally. The
Court also stated that such an initiative should take account of and
support existing development involving other groups. It held the view
that if such a programme of change could be successfully implemented,
the efficiencies, cost savings and other benefits accruing may allow
this claim to be processed within a reasonable timeframe to be agreed
between the parties.
I would emphasise that the Labour Court Recommendation has been accepted
by the Health Service Employers but regrettably the Unions have stated
that they neither accept or reject the Labour Court Recommendation. I
arranged for exploratory discussions to be held between all the parties
concerned at the offices of the HSE-Employers Agency on 19 January 2007.
The employers indicated their willingness to engage in the process
recommended by the Labour Court. While I understand the discussions
provided clarity as to the respective positions of the parties the
meeting adjourned without agreement on the way forward. I would urge the
INO/PNA to give further serious consideration to the Labour Court
Recommendation. |
