Labour Court recommends HSE retain temporary higher-duty pay arrangements

The Labour Court recommended that HSE continue the pre-existing payment arrangements for staff temporarily assigned to higher duties and amend its guidance to cover all affected staff. The dispute with Health Service Trade Unions (INMO-IMPACT-IMO-SIPTU-PNA-Unite-Tue-Ucat-TEEU-Mlsa) concerned how pay should be set for temporary higher-grade assignments. The unions sought assimilation at the nearest point plus one on the higher scale; HSE said it had followed Circular 17/2013 by placing staff at the minimum point or nearest point. The recommendation was signed on 17 December 2015. The Court said the collective agreement had ended the previous arrangements for acting assignments but had not ended temporary assignments or their associated payments. It also recommended that proposals to change those payment arrangements be handled through normal procedures.