Labour Court disallows porters’ appeal over regrading at St Vincent’s

The Labour Court affirmed a Rights Commissioner’s recommendation against the regrading claim by three unnamed porters at St Vincent’s University Hospital. The decision was signed on 9 June 2010. The porters sought evaluation of their posts against the supplies officer grade, arguing their duties had evolved and should be compared with similar positions in other hospitals. The hospital argued the roles differed and the claim would increase costs. The Court said the nationally agreed evaluation process did not allow an alternative system. It noted the workers could have sought re-evaluation after a year if circumstances had changed, but had not done so. The recommendation that the complaint was not well founded was affirmed and the appeal disallowed.