Labour Court recommends talks over Presentation Sisters Clonmel roster dispute

The Labour Court recommended further talks between Presentation Sisters Clonmel and Unite over changes to work rosters. Its recommendation was signed on 28 January 2013. A roster designed after an earlier recommendation met the Service’s clinical care needs but did not resolve the industrial relations issues. It included night working, which Unite found unacceptable; the Court said night working had not been before it at the earlier hearing. The Court recommended that the parties use an agreed facilitator with industrial relations expertise for talks lasting no more than two weeks. The Service should cover the costs, current rosters should continue in the meantime, and the dispute could return to the Court if necessary.