Electricians attached to the Technical Engineering Electrical Union voted unanimously in favour of proposals after a meeting in Dungarvan, Co Waterford on Tuesday night.

The proposals called for both parties to negotiate a national agreement on call-out/on-call rates with the assistance of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. Any outstanding issues can be jointly referred to the Labour Court for determination thereafter.

The use of non-compliant outside contractors will also be investigated, while  a number of promotional positions for craftworkers will also be created in HSE South hospitals as part of the deal.

An independent specialist will chair a meeting with regards to the procedure of changing light bulbs at Cork University Hospital. A spokesperson for the TEEU said that the expert  has been given the power to issue binding adjudication if necessary. A decision on the matter is expected within four-weeks.

The payment of wage increases due under national agreements to the TEEU members will be addressed, and if there is failure to agree the date for retrospection of the pay increases then the matter can be also referred to the Labour Court for a determination.

The row, which resulted in 38 TEEU members suspended from the payroll in hospitals in the south, was recently described by HSE management as a dispute over who should change light bulbs.

Finbarr Dorgan, Assistant General Secretary from the Waterford Branch said, “We’re glad the issues are being resolved. Proposals were initially put forward five weeks ago, but were rejected by the HSE management. Thankfully, following the intervention of the National Implementation Body we can now start to put these issues behind us”.

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