Labour Court recommends changes to St Mary’s Hospital tea breaks

The Labour Court recommended ending the morning tea break and replacing the afternoon and evening break with a staggered working tea break for care attendants at St Mary’s Hospital, Drogheda. The recommendation was signed on 15 June 2009, with the changes to take effect from 1 July. The HSE Dublin North East proposed removing the 15-minute morning and 30-minute afternoon break. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union opposed the changes, citing the long-standing arrangements and a trial-period agreement. The Court said the existing breaks were out of line with the norm, but recommended no change to the 20-minute break.