Derek Coyle’s complaint against St. Vincent’s Private Hospital fails

The Workplace Relations Commission found porter Derek Coyle’s complaint against St. Vincent’s Private Hospital was not well founded. The decision was dated 16 January 2023. Coyle alleged the hospital was trying to dismiss long-serving porters active in SIPTU and had assigned him duties outside his normal work in the hope he would refuse. He said he had been on paid suspension for just over 14 months and sought an adjournment while an investigation report was finalised. The hospital argued that the statutory protection Coyle relied on did not apply because it engaged in collective bargaining with unions including SIPTU, FORSA and the INMO. The officer found that this protection required the employer not to engage in collective bargaining. As the hospital did, Coyle did not qualify for it.