The group of unions nationally representing the non-nursing and related grades, which includes the staff in Cregg House referred to by the Deputy, accepted a pay increase, arising from the programme for competitiveness and work, which was recommended by the Labour Relations Commission on 2 September 1998. My Department provided funds for these staff to receive this increased national payment.
I understand that the staff at Cregg House refused to accept this increase and instead successfully took a claim to the Labour Relations Commission, claiming parity with care attendants in certain named agencies. The implementation details of this recommendation have yet to be finalised between the management and unions.
As the Deputy will know, Partnership 2000 for Inclusion Employment and Competitiveness provided for national increases, including a modernisation element, to apply for the duration of the programme and specifically excluded any other cost increasing claims, such as the one in Cregg House. Outstanding issues which could not be dealt with in the context of partnership 2000 were agreed to be referred to partnership committees, which include representatives of both management and unions, set up under the auspices of the Health Service Employers Agency.
