Martin to establish industrial relations audit : the first step in major overhaul of relationships within the health services
29 May 2000
The Minister for Health and Children, Mr Micheál Martin TD, today (29th May, 2000) announced that an industrial relations audit of the health services is to be undertaken immediately to examine the problem of recurring industrial disputes in this sector. The Minister stated that this audit will be part of a major overhaul of relationships within the health services sector , comprising:
- an Industrial Relations Audit;
- the Health Services National Partnership Forum;
- the establishment of a Strategic Health Forum to involve health service providers more fully in the planning and provision of services.
"There have been 12 disputes in the last four years and as far as I am concerned that's 12 too many. We have to change this pattern within the health services and already we are doing a number of things to ensure that the best practice in industrial relations prevail," said the Minister.
The Industrial Relations Audit is to be carried out by the advisory service of the Labour Relations Commission. The audit will review mechanisms to resolve disputes at local and national level and will also examine the level of referrals of disputes to third parties.
The next step following the audit would be a role for the Health Services National Partnership Forum in establishing a blueprint for best practice agreed by both health management and unions. "It is envisaged that this blueprint would emphasise that industrial relations mechanisms of the State should be exhausted before industrial action is pursued," the Minister explained, "but before any such blueprint could be agreed that both management and unions confidence and trust will have to be strengthened on all sides".
Thirdly, a Strategic Health Forum, with a much wider remit than the partnership forum, will be established. This will outline the strategic vision and plan for the next 10 years within the health services. It is envisaged that regional seminars for health service staff will take place and submissions from these would be forwarded to a National Health Conference which will develop common ground on a number of issues.
Finally, it is also envisaged that a national code for the protection of essential services, agreed by management and unions, will be drawn up.
The Minister concluded " Through vision, a partnership approach and with all the stakeholders working together, we can achieve a better health service for everyone."
