Labour Court disallows caretaker’s appeal over senior allowance

The Labour Court disallowed a worker’s appeal over a senior caretakers allowance at St Killians Community School and affirmed the Rights Commissioner’s recommendation. The decision was dated 16 November 2004. The worker had been a caretaker at the school in Bray, Co Wicklow, until retiring in April 2004. The union sought the allowance, arguing that his duties matched those of senior caretakers in Dublin schools who received it. The school’s management said the maintenance grading structure for community and comprehensive schools outside Dublin was centrally agreed. The Labour Court found that the collective agreement restricted the allowance to caretakers in schools in Dublin and Cork. It agreed with the Rights Commissioner’s conclusion that the worker had been paid under the terms for senior caretakers outside Dublin, and disallowed the appeal.