Labour Court urges HSE and healthcare workers to clarify leave claim

The Labour Court recommended that the HSE and more than 100,000 healthcare workers clarify how to address a claim for 10 days' leave for everyone. The recommendation, signed on 22 September 2021, did not decide the claim itself. The unions sought special recognition for healthcare workers' response to the COVID-19 pandemic, citing the risks and critical work involved. The HSE argued that the Government should first consider the issue and that any measure needed to be assessed against wider budgetary considerations. The Court said it was reluctant to make a definitive recommendation because the parties' Building Momentum agreement contained dispute-resolution arrangements and they disagreed about how those applied to the claim. The HSE estimated a potential cost of €377 million, while the unions disputed that estimate as a reflection of their position. The Court recommended that the parties make every effort to clarify potential arrangements as soon as possible, and during the autumn period referred to by the HSE.