Pickets lifted at hospital ahead of planned talks

Pickets at the Royal Hospital in Dublin were lifted today ahead of talks with the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) on Monday.

The dispute follows a decision by management at the voluntary hospital to outsource the jobs of a laundry operator and a porter to a private contractor.

SIPTU health sector organiser Paul Bell said: “We have agreed to lift the pickets following an invitation to enter talks at the LRC on Monday.

“SIPTU has agreed to enter the LRC discussions without pre-conditions.”

The hospital provides rehabilitation, complex extended care and respite services for 183 patients on both an in-patient and day-patient basis.

Chief executive Graham Knowles said: “We welcome this significant movement on the part of SIPTU. We had been asking for SIPTU to attend conciliation talks with us since they issued their strike notice. It is extremely disappointing that SIPTU allowed the matter to get out of control in this way.

“In particular, SIPTU’s refusal to engage in conciliation talks prior to going on strike, and their decision not to provide contingency or emergency cover, were disproportionate actions and a concerning development.”

He said despite this being an all out-strike, the hospital continued to operate effectively without compromising patient care and was prepared for a period of sustained industrial action.