HEALTH SECTOR unions are expected to press health service management today on plans for outsourcing jobs as part of the latest phase of the new talks between Government representatives and union leaders on pay cuts and public sector reform.
The issue of outsourcing of jobs in the health sector is one of the key elements in the threatened two-day strike in seven Dublin hospitals scheduled to begin in early April. Siptu health sector organiser Paul Bell said again yesterday that the hospital strike was going ahead.
The new talks on pay and reform are dealing with different sectors in the public service such as the Civil Service, health, education and local authorities.
The process, being facilitated by senior officials of the Labour Relations Commission, yesterday centred on talks on the Civil Service. The talks dealt with whether the parties were still agreeable to reforms agreed in outline in talks last December. These proposals fell after the Government rejected an overall package of 12 days unpaid leave for staff and co-operation with modernisation in return for a commitment that pay would not be cut.
Management sources last night described the Civil Service talks as preliminary discussions. Further talks between Department of Finance officials and Civil Service unions will take place today.
The Civil Service reforms include provision for the redeployment of staff, additional cross-stream reporting, revised sick leave management, and greater use of open recruitment.
General secretary of the Public Service Executive Union Tom Geraghty said that it would be very difficult to conclude a deal. “It is very complex, there an awful lot of elements, any one of which could collapse the process. I think we are in for a rough few weeks.”
Meanwhile, Blair Horan, general secretary of the Civil Public and Service Union, denied an overtime ban, introduced by his union yesterday, constituted an escalation of industrial action.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen said yesterday that he was hopeful the talks will be successful.