Labour Court recommends restoring hospital staffing agreement

The Labour Court recommended that South Infirmary-Victoria University Hospital and Mercy University Hospital restore agreed staffing terms and hold talks with the Irish Nurses' & Midwives' Organisation after a dispute over nurse transfers to an urgent care centre in Cork. The Court, in a recommendation dated 18 December 2012, found that the hospitals had a collective agreement with the INMO. It said management should have consulted the union when HSE funding commitments changed and could not unilaterally alter the agreement to the detriment of affected nurses. The union said the agreement provided for 6.5 whole-time equivalent transfers and argued management had reneged on that commitment. The hospitals said the HSE would fund only 4.7 whole-time equivalents and that staff were needed for other services. The recommended talks were to conclude within 12 weeks, with unresolved issues eligible for referral back to the Court.