Labour Court recommends renewed talks on St James Hospital fire-alarm work

The Labour Court recommended that St James Hospital and the Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union resume discussions about contracting out fire-alarm work. The recommendation was signed on 16 January 2013. The union said the hospital had exceeded an earlier recommendation by outsourcing more work and had breached agreed procedures. It sought the work’s return and compensation for lost earnings. St James Hospital denied outsourcing and said it had used specialist fire-safety engineering contractors for more than a decade, with patient, visitor and staff safety its primary concern. The Court recommended that the parties re-engage under the Public Service Agreement 2010–2014, complete local discussions within six weeks and then follow the agreement’s procedures. Any unresolved issues should be referred back to the Court for a final recommendation within eight weeks.