21 June 2001 Edition
Cavan hospital strike - Board urged to talk
With the imminent approach of all-out industrial action by all non-nursing staff at Cavan General Hospital this Friday, Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has called on North Eastern Health Board management to engage in immediate and meaningful talks with the representatives of striking porters to avoid the serious escalation of the current situation at the hospital.
Ó Caoláin, who met with the striking porters on 9 June and who has made direct representations on the dispute to the Programme Manager for Acute Services and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ambrose McLoughlin, has urged management to respond imaginatively to secure an early resolution of the dispute. Given the strike notice which expires this Friday and which will bring out, among others, attendants, catering staff and laundry workers, the Cavan/Monaghan Dáil deputy has issued a strong plea to Health Board management to act immediately.
``I am deeply concerned, as are a countless number of dependent Cavan families, at the forthcoming strike action at Cavan General,'' said Ó Caoláin. ``Given that this dispute can be resolved with minimal change to current practice and without additional cost, there is an imperative on management to respond imaginatively. They must do so if we are to avoid what would be nothing short of a catastrophe for the hospital.
``There is a long standing problem at the Cavan Hospital site. A very poor record of industrial relations is attributable to the negative disposition of certain sections of management. This must be addressed and addressed now.
``I believe that the issue at the centre of the dispute can be resolved through the appointment of a head porter who would act on behalf of all the porters and liase with management. This would improve the working environment for all concerned. Monetary reward is not an issue.
``I strongly appeal again to the Health Board management to act with urgency and flexibility and commence unconditional and meaningful talks with the porters' representatives immediately. An unduly strict interpretation of industrial relations practices will simply exacerbate the situation. Management must recognise and accept the unique difficulties involved and the resolution which is at hand if the will is there, as I believe it is on the part of the staff who have reluctantly taken the course of strike action.''
Ó Caoláin, who met with the striking porters on 9 June and who has made direct representations on the dispute to the Programme Manager for Acute Services and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ambrose McLoughlin, has urged management to respond imaginatively to secure an early resolution of the dispute. Given the strike notice which expires this Friday and which will bring out, among others, attendants, catering staff and laundry workers, the Cavan/Monaghan Dáil deputy has issued a strong plea to Health Board management to act immediately.
``I am deeply concerned, as are a countless number of dependent Cavan families, at the forthcoming strike action at Cavan General,'' said Ó Caoláin. ``Given that this dispute can be resolved with minimal change to current practice and without additional cost, there is an imperative on management to respond imaginatively. They must do so if we are to avoid what would be nothing short of a catastrophe for the hospital.
``There is a long standing problem at the Cavan Hospital site. A very poor record of industrial relations is attributable to the negative disposition of certain sections of management. This must be addressed and addressed now.
``I believe that the issue at the centre of the dispute can be resolved through the appointment of a head porter who would act on behalf of all the porters and liase with management. This would improve the working environment for all concerned. Monetary reward is not an issue.
``I strongly appeal again to the Health Board management to act with urgency and flexibility and commence unconditional and meaningful talks with the porters' representatives immediately. An unduly strict interpretation of industrial relations practices will simply exacerbate the situation. Management must recognise and accept the unique difficulties involved and the resolution which is at hand if the will is there, as I believe it is on the part of the staff who have reluctantly taken the course of strike action.''