Medical Scientists accept Labour Court recommendation to return to WRC

Medical Scientists have accepted a recommendation from the Labour Court to return to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), to resolve long-standing recruitment and retention issues in the sector.

Medical scientists in Our Lady's Hospital, Navan mounted pickets on the hospital over the past two weeks as they joined the industrial action.

There are 21 medical scientists working in Our Lady's Hospital Navan providing a 24/7, 365 days a year laboratory service to patients in the hospital and also for GPs and nursing homes in County Meath.

In accepting the Labour Court’s recommendation, the Medical Laboratory Scientists' Association (MLSA), has suspended plans for three consecutive days of industrial action next week.

After the MLSA and HSE/Department of Health were invited into the Labour Court for exploratory talks this week, the Court requested that both parties engage further at Workplace Relations Commission for a period of at least three weeks.

The Labour Court has requested notification after that timeframe if an agreement has been reached or not. It has requested that if outstanding issues remain they be referred back to the Court, which has an accepted authority to make a recommendation that is binding for both parties.

The Labour Court talks follows one day of Industrial Action by Medical Scientists last week and a further day of action on Tuesday. Planned action for Wednesday was suspended following invitation to the Labour Court.

MLSA General Secretary Terry Casey said the Union remained committed to resolving severe recruitment and retention issues in the sector and to achieving a sustainable work structure for Medical Scientists, patients and the Irish health service.