Labour Court overturns tool allowance recommendation on Castlebar Town Council appeal

The Labour Court overturned a Rights Commissioner’s recommendation that Castlebar Town Council pay a tool allowance to a Traffic/Litter Warden. The Court’s decision was dated 31 July 2007. The worker, represented by the Irish Municipal, Public and Civil Trade Union, sought the allowance under a 2003 agreement covering craftworkers. The Council argued that a 2001 agreement aligned wardens with craftworkers for pay purposes but did not extend to future allowances; the union said the allowance should apply. The Court found the tool allowance applied only to specified craft grades and that the worker was already paid under the 2001 agreement. It allowed the Council’s appeal and overturned the recommendation, while noting the Council had not sought to recover money previously paid in error.