The Labour Court has issued a recommendation on a long-running pay dispute involving public laboratory scientists working in the HSE.
SIPTU, which represents the scientists, said the decision acknowledges that public laboratory scientists should be paid in line with their colleagues who work as medical laboratory scientists.
The union said however that questions remain over how pay parity will be achieved.
Public laboratory scientists analyse environmental, biological and chemical samples to track and control disease outbreaks, ensure safe drinking water and test for toxic hazards.
They are based in laboratories in Dublin, Cork and Galway.
SIPTU said the Labour Court expressed an overall view to honour the outcome of an independent report which reconfirmed a linkage between public laboratory scientists and medical laboratory scientists.
“There is still a concern that the HSE will delay implementing enhanced pay rates without a clear mechanism to do so,” said SIPTU Sector Organiser John McCamley.
“SIPTU members have been fighting for several years to get the HSE to honour the outcome of the independent report, resulting in some public laboratory scientists being paid at a lower rate than colleagues carrying out the same work,” he said.
“We call on the HSE to implement the enhanced pay rates without delay and address the disrespect shown to our members over the last number of years,” Mr McCamley said.
The HSE said it is considering the Labour Court recommendation.
“We note that the court recommends the implementation of the collective agreement in respect of the maintenance of the pay linkage with medical laboratory scientists and that any outstanding issues arising from achieving that outcome be finalised in the context of the prospective public sector pay talks/agreement,” a HSE spokesperson said.
