This article is from page 4 of the 2008-05-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
THE manager of Shannondoc con- firmed yesterday that there will be “significant” cost implications in re- lation to a successful Labour Court claim by SIPTU for improved rates of pay for the service’s workforce. Shannondoc provides an_ out-of- hours GP service to patients across
Clare and the mid-west, except for the Limerick city area, and employs 126 workers, with the vast majority on a part-time basis.
SIPTU sought the application of Health Service Executive (HSE) terms and conditions of employment for all its members and retrospection back to January 2005.
The success of the claim will mean
a nice pay-day for the SIPTU mem- bers as the money has been backdat- ed to August 2006.
SIPTU pointed out that such a claim was recommended by the La- bour Court in relation to arguments put forward by SIPTU on the South- doc service. Southdoc pointed out that the claim would cost €753,629.
Shannondoc put forward proposals
based on that recommendation but SIPTU argued that those proposals do not mirror in full the HSE cond1i- tions applicable in other areas.
SIPTU claimed that full pay, pre- mium rates and sick leave should be paid from January 1, 2005. The union believed it was a sustainable claim as it was formally lodged in May 2005 and Shannondoc acknowledged this in June 2005.
SIPTU also argued that its mem- bers should not suffer as a result of Shannondoc refusing to engage in discussions with the union until mid- 2007, especially as what was sought was applied by the HSE elsewhere.
Shannondoc maintained that retro- spection should be paid from August 2006 as this was agreed with media- tion of the Labour Relations Com- mission. The company viewed it as a reasonable compromise and the majority of staff accepted it.
Shannondoc pointed out that it was not a profit-making organisation but received funding from the HSE and the concession of any claim would be subject to HSE approval before fund- ing could be made available.
The Labour Court recommended that the HSE terms and conditions of employment should apply from Au- gust 1, 2006 with the implementation details agreed between the parties as early as possible.
Shannondoc General Manager Lar- ry Maher said that the cost implica- tions of the Labour Court judgment will be ‘significant’.