Labour Court recommends roster changes at Irish Blood Transfusion Service

The Labour Court recommended changes to the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS)’s proposed rostering and cross-functionality arrangements after considering objections from the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. It issued the recommendation on 10 April 2012. The Court recommended calculating part-time staff’s average weekly hours over the previous 12 months, then placing those hours in one of four ranges to set a minimum for each four-week roster. It upheld fortnightly payment for hours up to 37¼ a week, with additional hours paid at the end of the roster month. The Court recommended that both unions accept management’s cross-functionality proposals, with assurances that grades, work allocation and pay rates would be protected. It also recommended reviews after six and 12 months, and compensation at 1.5 times actual loss if the changes reduced pay.