HSE threat to privatise jobs as porters mount lightning strikes

HSE management is threatening to privatise 54 porter jobs at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital due to continuing industrial relations problems.

In recent weeks, the porters have been involved in four lightning strikes and hospital management say they have lost patience with the allegedly unofficial actions.

HSE Mid-West manager John O’Brien warned steps will have to be taken as a result of the disputes.

“Absenteeism levels are one of the highest if not the highest in the country at 15%,” he said.

Mr O’Brien said the absenteeism was characterised by single-day absences, with porters ringing in at short notice.

“In terms of sick leave we are considering not making payment for single days from now on. We are also considering the possibility of part privatisation or privatising that service from now on, considering the way they are carrying on and behaving.”

He said that the attitude of certain porters to patient care and safety was appalling.

But among the issues raised by porters were that conditions in their rest room were very bad and unhygienic.

A spokesman for the HSE said: “The problems with this rest room are of the porters’ own making. We set out refurbishing it some 12 months ago only to meet with a lack of co-operation from the porters who refused to move out. After much persuasion, they eventually agreed to move out of half of this space and it has been completely refurbished including two new wash hand-basins. For some reason they are now dragging their feet about moving out of other half of this area. Once they do so, it too will be refurbished.”

The spokesman said an attitude of non co-operation was symptomatic of an overall approach.

He said: “The bottom line is the Mid-Western Regional Hospital was built by the taxpayer to care for patients.

“It was not established for the primary benefit of a small group who refuse to abide by the most basic principles of established industrial relations.”