Labour Court overturns €1,000 recommendation on South Tipperary County Council appeal

In 2003, the Labour Court upheld South Tipperary County Council’s appeal and rejected a Rights Commissioner’s recommendation that it pay a worker €1,000. The decision was dated 24 July 2003. The worker, represented by the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union, had challenged the Council’s reduction of his starting salary after an administrative error included an acting allowance. The Council argued that the relevant circular did not allow the acting allowance to count towards starting pay on promotion. The Court agreed. It said the error, which lasted only a few months, did not justify the recommended payment. The Council had also sought to recover an overpayment; the source gives amounts of €132.50 and £132.00 in different sections. The Court suggested that the Council not pursue the worker for outstanding amounts.