Vol. 238 No. 16
asked the Minister for Defence if he will explain the cause of the delay in his Department in making a decision on the claim by the IT&GWU on behalf of its civilian members employed in the Cork Military Hospital for week-end liability payment and night allowances; and if he proposes to grant this claim.
32.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will explain the cause of the delay by his Department in conceding the 11th round wage claim which the IT&GWU has served on behalf of its civilian members employed in the Cork Military Hospital; and what steps he proposes to take to finalise this important matter having regard to the prevailing low wage rates of the people concerned and to the fact that almost all other organised workers employed within the State have received their 11th round wage increase.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 31 and 32 together.
Claims were served on my Department on 26th April, 1968, and 3rd May, 1968, for a Sunday allowance, a night allowance, a wage increase and a five-day 40-hour week. The union was replied to on the 2nd May, 1968, and again on 29th May, 1968. On the latter date, my Department reminded the union that, in considering claims of this nature, it was the practice to have regard to concessions granted in voluntary hospitals in Cork and said that on receipt of notification of the terms of settlement of any similar claims made on the voluntary hospitals the matter would be further considered.
The claims in question were dealt with as a group. Confirmations from the union that agreement had been reached with the FUE in relation to the voluntary hospitals in respect of all the relevant items were completed on the 6th February, 1969, and the claims in respect of the items mentioned, except night allowance, have now been sanctioned. The staff concerned in Cork Military Hospital are not required to work at night and the payment of night allowance does not, therefore, arise.
33.
asked the Minister for Defence if he is now in a position to state when a decision will be made in respect of the parity claim with the Cork Health Authority and the Voluntary Hospitals Group which the IT&GWU has served on behalf of its civilian members employed in the Cork Military Hospital.
In dealing with claims on behalf of the employees referred to by the Deputy, it is the practice to have regard to concessions granted in voluntary hospitals in Cork.
My Department was informed on the 5th February, 1969, by the union that agreement had been reached between the union on the one hand and the Federated Union of Employers and the Hospitals Commission on the other "on proposals which have considerably reduced the gap between the wages paid by the Voluntary Hospitals Group and the Local Authority".
The union intimated that, at a later stage, it would let my Department have detailed particulars of the adjustment involved and this information is awaited.
