THE UNION representing electricians has warned of an escalation of its industrial action at the State’s largest hospital if progress is not made at talks with management today at the Labour Relations Commission.
The Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) yesterday staged a four-hour work stoppage at St James’s Hospital in a row over responsibility for fire alarms.
The union contended that management was planning to reduce the role of electricians on site. It said the first step in this plan had been the handing over of responsibility for fire alarms to outside contractors.
The union said while it had agreed to attend talks at the LRC, it was committed to escalating the industrial action, with a day-long stoppage planned for next Monday if no progress was made.
TEEU regional secretary Ian McDonnell said further escalation of the action could be considered later this week if there was no progress in the talks.
Management at the hospital said there had been no disruption to services as a result of the industrial action yesterday. It said the union had agreed to provide emergency cover to ensure patients were not adversely affected.
St James’s said that while traditionally it had engaged electricians to reset fire alarms, it was not the case that only electricians could do this work.
“In other hospitals it is carried out by a range of staff, including security staff.
“In St James’s Hospital security personnel have traditionally been part of the hospital fire team and are now engaged in the resetting of fire alarms for which they have been appropriately trained,” the hospital said.
“Since 2001 the services of specialist external companies have been procured to maintain the overall fire alarm system under contract to the hospital. The retention of such specialist companies is one of the safety conditions imposed by the supplier of the fire alarm system and is in accordance with best practice and health and safety statutory requirements.”
The TEEU said it objected to management’s proposals as electricians at the hospital had always maintained the fire alarms and were the appropriately qualified people to do this work.