'Light bulb' dispute ends after ballot

A four-year dispute by electricians working in hospitals in the Health Service Executive (HSE) South area has ended following…

A four-year dispute by electricians working in hospitals in the Health Service Executive (HSE) South area has ended following a union ballot on proposals issued by the National Implementation Body.

Electricians in the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) voted unanimously to accept the deal after a meeting in Dungarvan, Co Waterford last night.

TEEU general secretary designate Eamon Devoy welcomed the outcome.

"The intervention of the NIB is very much appreciated and we recommended acceptance of the terms. The fact that binding arbitration is provided for in a number of areas is particularly welcome and was something we sought during the dispute," he said in a statement.

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"It did not help matters that HSE South seemed more intent on misrepresenting the issues in the media than seeking a resolution to very real, long standing problems. Hopefully we can all move forward from here."

The settlement calls for the TEEU and the HSE to negotiate a national agreement on on-call/call-out rates with the assistance of the ICTU. They can jointly refer any outstanding issues to the Labour Court for determination.

Also under the deal, a number of promotional positions for craftworkers will be created in HSE South hospitals.

An independent expert will chair discussions on the protocol to be adopted at Cork University Hospital over the changing of light bulbs with the power to issue binding adjudication if necessary, the TEEU said.

The payment of wage increases due under national agreements to the TEEU members is also to be addressed.

If there is failure to agree the date for retrospection of the pay increases then the matter can be referred to the Labour Court for a determination.

HSE management had described the dispute as a row over who should change light bulbs.

The TEEU recently accused the HSE of escalating the dispute by taking security access cards and keys from TEEU members. However, the HSE denied it had confiscated swipe cards.

Nearly 40 TEEU members, mainly electricians, in hospitals in the south had been suspended from the payroll since earlier this month as part of the dispute.