Labour Court changes HSE overtime compensation recommendation

The Labour Court changed a €1,500 recommendation for a Health Service Executive maintenance foreman who lost guaranteed overtime. Dated 29 March 2007, it recommended compensation equal to twice the difference between his average annual overtime earnings in 2005 and 2006 and his earnings under the old arrangement. The worker, represented by the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians, said colleagues had been compensated for lost overtime. The HSE said the guaranteed overtime had ended because it was unnecessary and wasteful, but the worker continued to receive some overtime and had been compensated before. The Court found he would lose earnings when the guaranteed overtime arrangement ended. It said his circumstances differed from colleagues receiving ongoing compensation because he would continue to work some overtime.