Labour Court disallows worker’s appeal over ambulance service promotion posts

The Labour Court affirmed a Rights Commissioner's recommendation that existing local panels take preference over the national panel when filling Leading Emergency Medical Technician posts at HSE Ambulance Service. The decision was dated 30 October 2008. The worker, an Emergency Medical Technician assigned to South Tipperary Ambulance Service, was represented by the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union. The union said he ranked third on the national panel and had not been told that an earlier local panel would be used to fill vacancies. The HSE said existing panels normally took precedence and that it had honoured its commitments to the national panel. The Court found the HSE had acted properly and in line with the national agreement, and disallowed the union's claim.