Labour Court finds no breach in National Maternity Hospital handbook dispute

The Labour Court found no breach of Sustaining Progress in a dispute between the National Maternity Hospital and the Irish Nurses Organisation over a grievance procedures handbook. The union said management had introduced new procedures without consulting it; the hospital said the handbook recorded longstanding practice. In a recommendation dated 20 September 2004, the Court said consultation had not taken place but did not consider the handbook a significant workplace initiative under the agreement. It noted that the handbook matched the national template and that the hospital had committed to engage with workers and their unions.