Electricians to protest at hospital

Electricians at St James's Hospital, Dublin, are to place a picket at the main entrances tomorrow morning.

Some seven TEEU members that are employed by the hospital will take part in the four-hour work stoppage in protest to changes in their role. The electricians will provide emergency cover and no disruption to the patient services is expected, the hospital said in a statement.

The protest is over the removal of key duties from electricians, including the hospital handing over responsibility for fire alarms to security staff. The workers are concerned the dilution of their role will open up the transfer of other duties from electricians.

The TEEU said normal dispute resolution procedures, such as the Labour Court, have not yet been exhausted.

Workers voted for industrial action was voted for last March, but this was suspended after agreement with management that no further changes would be introduced.

However, management introduced changes to fire alarm protocol in June and have delayed confirming a date with the LRC, the TEEU said.

Management will continue discussions with the union and is willing to engage through the LRC, the hospital said. The hospital said it has told the union some duties associated with fire alarms would remain part of the electricians' duties and any changes would be consulted.

The workers have been carrying out a work to rule in addition to a callout and overtime ban for the past two weeks.

The union said it will escalate the dispute if not resolved and is proposing a four-hour stoppage next Monday. August 9th and a full-day stoppage the following Monday, August 16th.