The Labour Court has recommended increases in pay for healthcare support staff, aimed at resolving the dispute which saw thousands go on strike in recent months. The proposed increases, if accepted by Siptu, are to come into effect from September 1.

Some will see pay increases of between 6% and 13%. This is on top of the 1.75% increase in pay due in September 2019 under the terms of the Public Service Stability Agreement.

The Labour Court also recommended a pathway for members who have yet to have their jobs evaluated, with specific cut off days for completion.

In a separate Labour Court recommendation, chef union members have also taken a significant step closer to securing pay justice, according to Siptu health division organiser Paul Bell.

Mr Bell said the Labour Court recommended that a 12-week proactive process, under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission, is undertaken by the union and the Health Service Executive.

“This engagement will seek to build on the work already undertaken in order to assess and evaluate the pay issues particular to chefs and head chefs in the health service,” he said.

“Union representatives will continue to assess the detail of the recommendations. The final decision is in the hands of our membership, who will be balloted on the terms of the recommendation.”

Balloting will begin on August 12 and conclude on September 18.

Around 1,000 healthcare workers across Cork took part in a 24-hour strike at the end of June. Further strike dates were deferred to allow for the talks, which centre around a dispute involving 10,000 health service workers over the implementation of a job-evaluation scheme.