The Labour Court dismissed an equal-pay appeal by T P Sheridan and 12 Others against the Health Services Executive North Eastern Area, affirming that the porters were not discriminated against in their pay. The determination was dated 17 November 2008.
The porters, represented by the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union, said their telephone and reception cover duties were comparable to those of a female telephonist and receptionist at Cavan General Hospital. The HSE argued that the posts differed overall and that pay was set through separate grading and bargaining arrangements.
The Court found significant differences in the jobs as a whole and no evidence that the overall work was of equal value. It concluded there was no like work and no prima facie case of discrimination.