MORE THAN 60 staff at Mount Carmel private hospital who have been on strike since last week have voted to accept settlement proposals brokered by the Labour Relations Commission.
The employees were protesting at the transfer of their jobs to another company. Under the deal the 65 employees, who work mainly in catering at the hospital, will be guaranteed employment with the new company, Aramark, on the same terms and conditions as they have had up to now.
As part of the agreement workers transferring to Aramark will receive a goodwill payment of €250 per year of service since September 8th, 2006. Half will be paid immediately and half on January 1st, 2009.
Aramark will also offer voluntary severance to up to 10 of the workers who do not wish to transfer to the new company. This will be on the basis of three weeks' pay per year of service up to a cap of 1.5 year's salary.
In the event of Aramark losing its contract to provide services at Mount Carmel, the workers concerned will be guaranteed continuing jobs on the same pay and conditions with whatever company takes up the contract.
In the event of Mount Carmel deciding to employ direct labour once again to carry out these functions, the staff will be entitled to revert to their former positions at the hospital on the same terms and conditions as previously applied.
The deal also allows for the current pension scheme to be improved although the level of contributions from employer and employee will increase, with both staff and Aramark each contributing 5 per cent. At present Mount Carmel contributes 3 per cent and employees 4 per cent.
Two workers who currently reside at Mount Carmel will continue to live there. Any changes in their future status will be the subject of negotiation with their trade union, Siptu.
Siptu health services branch organiser Paul Bell said the agreement set "a new benchmark for workers whose jobs are being outsourced". He added: "The formula not only protects their terms and conditions but their security of employment."