Labour Court recommends HSE job-evaluation changes for support staff

The Labour Court recommended that Health Service Executive (HSE), A Department Of Health implement phases one and two of its Job Evaluation Scheme from 1 September 2019, with pay-band assimilation arrangements for staff. The recommendation, dated 6 August 2019, followed a dispute involving 6768 Approx Support Staff represented by the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union. The Court recommended phase three implementation from 1 September 2020 and phase four from 1 January 2021, with work on phase four to begin as soon as possible and no later than three months after acceptance of the recommendation. The dispute also covered improved remuneration for HSE head chefs and chefs, which the Court said would be addressed separately. The HSE cited a lack of provision in the pay envelope before the end of the Public Service Agreement and proposed later dates. The union relied on the 2017 agreement and sought earlier implementation, pointing to the completion of the first two phases in October 2018. The Court said approximately 6,400 workers would benefit from phases one and two.