SIPTU members have welcomed the HSE decision to attend conciliation at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to try to resolve a dispute over its failure to fill vacant nursing posts on a permanent basis in two community units in County Meath. St. Joseph's Hospital in Trim and Beaufort House in Navan have a total of 8.14 whole-time equivalent (WTE) vacant nursing posts, including a clinical nurse manager. The union had argued that HSE management was in breach of the public service agreement by not filling these posts. Management has subsequently filled them with agency staff on short-term contracts. SIPTU Organiser, John McCamley, said: “SIPTU nursing members believed that the only way to truly have an on- going reliable service is to permanently fill these vacancies. It was an incredible decision not to fill the nursing vacancies and was taken unilaterally by management without any consultation or without a proper strategy to deal with the staffing gaps. While our position to fill these vacant posts on a permanent basis has not changed, we welcome the decision of all parties to engage at the WRC to try to resolve this dispute.”
SIPTU welcomes HSE decision to attend conciliation over staffing levels in Meath community units
