The Royal Hospital has refused to comment on a claim by SIPTU that it has apologised to the union and staff for the manner in which a porter was dismissed last year. The porter subsequently committed suicide.
SIPTU members at the hospital have threatened strike action from next Wednesday unless management changes its disciplinary procedures. They are meeting later today when their official, Ms Chris Rowlands, is to put settlement proposals to them in which the hospital has conceded its procedures were flawed and the dead man was unfairly dismissed.
The 47-year-old porter was dismissed last December after allegations of sexual harassment were made against him by a patient. The porter denied the charges and asked for an independent investigation of the complaint or referral of the case to a Rights Commissioner. Both requests were supported by SIPTU but refused by management, which conducted its own internal inquiry.
Subsequently other staff said they were not prepared to operate under the same disciplinary procedures and called for staffing arrangements that would prevent patients and staff being left in "one to one" situations. If they decide to go ahead with the strike it could have serious staffing implications across the public service.
Ms Rowlands said yesterday: "It is essential that recognised and clearly defined procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse be put in place, not only in the Royal Hospital, Donnybrook, but in all State agencies that provide patient /client services on a one to one basis. While it is vitally important that patients and clients are protected, it is equally necessary in the interest of fairness and natural justice that reasonable protection against false and unsubstantiated allegations of abuse be given to those who provide such vital care.'
She said that, following a conciliation meeting at the Labour Relations Commission, the Royal Hospital management "now accepts that the procedures used to effect the dismissal were flawed, therefore rendering the dismissal unfair. The management has apologised to the union and both parties have committed themselves to discuss new procedures, including an employee assistance programme".
A deadline of five weeks has been set to conclude the discussions, which will begin immediately after Easter, if SIPTU members agree to defer their industrial action. In the light of the assurances given by management, Ms Rowlands said the union was recommending acceptance of the peace formula at today's meeting.
A hospital spokesman declined to comment beyond confirming a peace formula had been agreed.