Waterford hospital dispute settled

A strike by 230 non-medical staff at Waterford Regional Hospital finally ended last night - 24 hours after a settlement had apparently been reached.

Within hours of one group of workers returning to work yesterday, others placed pickets at the hospital, claiming they had effectively been locked out by management.

However, all the staff concerned, who include porters, caterers and cleaners, are expected to return to work today following talks between the South Eastern Health Board, the ATGWU and a Dublin-based contract cleaning company, ISS.

The original strike, which forced the hospital to cancel all non-emergency services 10 days ago, involved eight members of the TEEU who claimed supervisors were carrying out the work of electricians and plumbers outside normal hours. That dispute was settled on Tuesday evening.

ATGWU members, including 125 cleaners employed by ISS, had refused to pass the TEEU pickets. With ISS consequently unable to provide a cleaning service, the board suspended its contract with the company last week. When the suspension was not immediately lifted yesterday, ATGWU members placed unofficial pickets at the hospital and two others in the city - St Patrick's and St Otteran's.

In talks last night, however, the union and the board committed themselves to a partnership approach in addressing outstanding issues. It is understood this involved the union agreeing not to resort to unofficial action in return for an assurance by the board that it will be genuine in addressing staff grievances.

The board had suggested last week that the hospital would be unable to function if the dispute was not settled in advance of the nurses' strike. A spokeswoman said yesterday, however, that the hospital was coping.