The Labour Court allowed a worker’s appeal over an electronic film production allowance at Rte, overturning a Rights Commissioner’s recommendation for a €750 payment. The decision was signed on 19 December 2006. The worker, a TV Camera Operator, was represented by the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union.
The union said camera operators assigned to electronic film production were entitled to an allowance equivalent to Lights Money and that Rte had refused payment to the worker since 2003. It said the worker received €1,500 in 2003, including two years’ retrospection, and that there had been no agreement to change the arrangement. Rte argued that Lights Money had been consolidated into basic salary and that the worker received two allowances valued at €6,348. It said his salary and allowances exceeded the top of the EFP salary scale by €2,176.
The Court found that a 1999 agreement covered the worker and remained in force until both sides agreed an alternative. It overturned the €750 recommendation and allowed the appeal, without stating a replacement payment amount.