Labour Court recommends half-day pay deduction for council workers who stopped work

The Labour Court varied a Rights Commissioner’s recommendation in a dispute involving South Dublin County Council and the Agemo Trade Group Services Industrial Professional Trade Union. It recommended a half-day pay deduction and no allowances for employees who took part in a work stoppage, and said €1,582 in overtime costs should not be taken from the pool bonus. The decision was signed on 1 April 2005. The stoppage followed local management’s attempt to move a worker to another crew. Other workers refused to work in support, and the Council decided to dock a day’s pay and allowances. The Council said the workers breached the grievance procedure and that it incurred extra collection costs. The union said members stayed in the yard to make representations for their colleague. The Court said the difficulties between two workers could have been handled better by involving representatives from both sides. It varied the earlier recommendation accordingly.