Labour Court upholds Fas leave recommendation on worker’s appeal

The Labour Court upheld a Rights Commissioner’s recommendation on special leave for a Fas worker’s public representative duties and dismissed his appeal. The decision was dated 18 December 2007. The worker, represented by SIPTU, argued that leave arrangements carried over when he transferred from the National Rehabilitation Board to Fas in 2000 were part of his terms and conditions. Fas said the former policy would continue subject to manager approval and that meetings of Tullamore Town Council would be paid. The recommendation allows him to attend Town Council meetings with notice to his manager and provides up to five paid days for other representative meetings. Further leave is at his own expense and requires advance approval. The Court considered the recommendation reasonable.