Labour Court rejects union claim to retain Southern Health Board laundry van service

The Labour Court recommended that the Southern Health Board discontinue its laundry van service and begin immediate negotiations with the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union on compensation for losses to one direct labour unit member. The recommendation was dated 8 December 1992. The union opposed contracting out the service, saying it would mean a job loss in the unit and financial losses to the worker through reduced allowances. The Board said outsourcing would cost half as much as the existing service and allow the driver to return to normal duties. The Court considered the laundry van service unsuitable for the Direct Labour Unit’s function.