THE Brothers of Charity in Limerick could be facing a bill of over €2 million to fund back-pay and increments owed to 150 staff.This arises from proposals put forward by the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) to the Brothers to resolve a dispute over the non-payment of increments to staff since 2008.
The LRC has given the Brothers to the end of this month to agree with IMPACT, SIPTU and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) to the payment of the monies.
Last year, the Labour Court ruled that incremental payments the Brothers did not pay to staff since 2008 must be paid.
All sides subsequently met in talks under the LRC and now, in a letter to all parties, regional manager Bríd McGinn confirmed a number of proposals put forward by her at the meeting to resolve the impasse.
This involved the Brothers of Charity "committing to full restoration of increments with effect from February 1st and it will also then present a timeframe for payment of retrospection in light of the financial position at that stage".
Ms McGinn said that in line with the Labour Court recommendation, "and recognising the cut in the Health Service Executive’s (HSE’s) allocation to the Brothers of Charity for 2012, the trade unions commit to engaging with management in seeking to identify necessary savings. In the event that the above process does not produce sufficient savings, the parties will re-engage in relation to further measures to achieve savings and process the matter under the Croke Park agreement."
IMPACT assistant national secretary, Andy Pike, said those affected are low-paid staff: "They were hit very hard by the loss. I am very pleased that we are on the road to setting things right."
Mr Pike estimated that the final bill to the Brothers of Charity will top €2m.
The LRC has given the Brothers to the end of this month to agree with IMPACT, SIPTU and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) to the payment of the monies.
Last year, the Labour Court ruled that incremental payments the Brothers did not pay to staff since 2008 must be paid.
All sides subsequently met in talks under the LRC and now, in a letter to all parties, regional manager Bríd McGinn confirmed a number of proposals put forward by her at the meeting to resolve the impasse.
This involved the Brothers of Charity "committing to full restoration of increments with effect from February 1st and it will also then present a timeframe for payment of retrospection in light of the financial position at that stage".
Ms McGinn said that in line with the Labour Court recommendation, "and recognising the cut in the Health Service Executive’s (HSE’s) allocation to the Brothers of Charity for 2012, the trade unions commit to engaging with management in seeking to identify necessary savings. In the event that the above process does not produce sufficient savings, the parties will re-engage in relation to further measures to achieve savings and process the matter under the Croke Park agreement."
IMPACT assistant national secretary, Andy Pike, said those affected are low-paid staff: "They were hit very hard by the loss. I am very pleased that we are on the road to setting things right."
Mr Pike estimated that the final bill to the Brothers of Charity will top €2m.