Labour Court rejects union claim to limit permanent job competitions

The Labour Court did not recommend conceding the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union’s claim against the South Eastern Health Board to confine competitions for permanent posts to the Board’s temporary staff. The recommendation was signed on 12 December 1995. The union argued that temporary workers with years of service had to compete against outside applicants for permanent jobs. The Board said open competition was required by its policy and statutory appointment rules. The Court concluded that a Ministerial Directive precluded conceding the union’s claim.