Security workers call off hospital strike

A strike by security workers which disrupted operations at a Waterford hospital was called off tonight.

The workers, who are members of SIPTU, had picketed the gates of the Waterford Regional Hospital after their employer lost its security contract to a company paying lower wages.

Around 18 operations at the hospital had to be cancelled after members of the ATGWU and the TEEU joined in the picket.

The Health Services Executive said the two private security companies involved had agreed to go to the Labour Relations Commission on Thursday.

“The pickets are being lifted as we speak. Scheduled operations are back on stream for tomorrow and patients should just contact the hospital as per normal on the day of an operation,” said a spokeswoman.

She said the operations which had been cancelled would be rescheduled and given priority.

“The hospital was not involved in the industrial relations dispute between the employer and its employees. The only people that were suffering in this were patients,” she said.

The dispute began when a private company, Sentry Security, lost its contract at Waterford Regional Hospital to another firm, Secureway.

The existing security staff were not transferred over to the new company, which SIPTU claims is provided for in agreements, and lost their jobs.

SIPTU regional secretary Mike Jennings said Secureway had informed the union it would be bringing in new workers on lower rates.

“This case highlights yet another instance of a state agency deliberately opting for a low pay employer, regardless of the consequences for existing workers,” he said.

Mr Jennings said Sentry Security had held the contract at the hospital for the past seven years – with some staff holding up to nine years service through the company and its previous employers at the hospital.