LRC to intervene in row over WHB lay-offs

The Labour Relations Commission is to intervene in the dispute over plans to lay-off 169 Western Health Board workers in order to make savings of €1.15m.

The IMPACT trade union called in the LRC because it no longer has any confidence in discussions with the health board.

IMPACT spokeswoman Emer O’Shea accused the WHB of intransigence.

"Late last night, we asked the board to agree to involve the Labour Relations Commission and to defer the lay-offs and they refused to do that," she said.

"They proceeded to lay off over 40 people today, so we’ve no confidence that direct discussions will result in any resolution to this crisis."