Medical Scientists suspend industrial action for talks

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 this week.

After the MLSA and HSE/Department of Health were invited into the Labour Court for exploratory talks last 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 two weeks ago and a further day of action last week.

Planned action for last Wednesday was suspended following invitation to the Labour Court.

Medical Laboratory Scientists Association 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 scientists, patients and the Irish health service.