Labour Court recommends renewed mediation in HSE-West and nurses’ dispute

The Labour Court recommended renewed mediation in a dispute between HSE-West and the Irish Nurses Organisation over the return to work of five assistant directors of nursing at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe. The recommendation was signed on 26 June 2009. The union said the assistant directors had raised operational and health-and-safety concerns before facing a disciplinary process over alleged non-cooperation. HSE-West said they had failed to follow management instructions and cited an independent assessment that found management had not acted inappropriately in suspending them. The Court recommended that mediation resume under the monitoring of national HSE and INO bodies. It said the process should address grievances, resulting issues, management and interpersonal difficulties, and return-to-work arrangements. Both sides should accept the mediator’s findings, cooperate and complete the process within a month.