Labour Court recommends new payment formula for HSE laboratory staff

The Labour Court recommended revised payment arrangements for HSE laboratory staff, including an hourly out-of-hours rate of €47.80 for weekday hours from midnight to 8am. It recommended compensation of 1.5 times actual earnings losses, paid in two instalments, and applying the stand-by rate used for HSE theatre nurses. The Medical Laboratory Scientist Association and the Irish Municipal, Public and Civil Trade Union said the changes would cause substantial losses for staff on regular emergency on-call rosters. The HSE cited budget reductions and the need to deliver services more efficiently. The recommendation was signed on 3 February 2011.