Chink of light in bulb row
The Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU), which represents electricians and craftworkers in the Health Service Executive, voted unanimously in favour of providing emergency cover to hospitals in the south despite the continuing row.
The uncertainty over emergency cover forced the cancellation of 11 operations in Kerry General Hospital on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, procedures have since resumed.
The vote in Dungarvan was taken despite the continued suspension of 38 TEEU members from the payroll following an escalation of the dispute earlier this week.
TEEU general secretary Owen Wills said the result of the vote was proof of the willingness of his members to provide a service to the public despite the decision of the HSE to “remove them from the payroll and ridicule the serious and long-standing grievances that need to be resolved”.
“Members will continue to report for work normally each day and will be available for deployment by their immediate supervisor.
“They will also provide on-call/call-out emergency cover as required after hours,” he said.
Mr Wills said HSE managers have also withdrawn the access card of a TEEU member at Cork University Hospital, making it impossible for him to report for work in the maintenance workshop.
“However he is making himself available in the canteen,” said Mr Wills.
“Our members are doing everything possible to minimise disruption to the public. They will continue to do so.”
He also denied rumours that the TEEU is planning to picket hospitals in the south on Monday.
His comments came as Barry O’Brien, the HSE’s assistant national director of human resources, said the HSE will return to talks under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission when TEEU members return to work.
The TEEU was considering that offer last night.
The dispute centres on changes to work practices which the HSE wants to implement.
A major part of the row involves differences over who should be allowed change light bulbs at Cork University Hospital.
It is understood that just four electricians working at CUH have difficulties about this issue.
