Labour Court recommends compensation rates based on January 2008 offer

The Labour Court recommended that compensation for lost earnings at Ely Hospital be calculated using rates in force on 30 January 2008. The recommendation was signed on 12 November 2008. HSE (South East), the Irish Nurses Orgainisation, the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union and the Irish Municipal, Public and Civil Trade Union disputed compensation after the hospital moved from seven-day to five-day services in January 2006. The unions sought later rates; management said its offer based on 2004 and 2005 rates was fair and could not be increased. The Court recommended applying the formula at the rates in force when HSE (South East) made its offer. The parties had agreed the amount of lost earnings, so the Court made no recommendation on that issue.