Labour Court recommends appeal mechanism for Oberstown assault scheme

The Labour Court recommended changes to the Assault and Injury Scheme for staff at Oberstown Children’s Detention Centre, including an appeal mechanism when an extension of benefits is denied and a review after 12 months. The recommendation was signed on 21 August 2015. The dispute between Oberstown House, the Irish Municipal, Public and Civil Trade Union, and the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union concerned the scheme’s four-year rolling period. The unions said it was not part of the previous terms and could penalise staff who suffered multiple or serious assaults. Management said the period had been part of the scheme since it began. The Court found that the four-year period had been applied in practice and that management had sometimes extended benefits. It recommended that management’s amended proposals be accepted in full and final settlement of the dispute.