Labour Court affirms rejection of Unilever Ireland worker's long-service payment claim

The Labour Court affirmed the rejection of a Unilever Ireland worker's claim for a long-service payment after compulsory redundancy. In a decision dated 9 February 2009, the Court found no reason to alter the Rights Commissioner's recommendation. The worker had more than 24 years' service but had not reached the scheme's 25-year award point. The union said the worker would have stayed until retirement and sought a pro-rata payment. Unilever Ireland said employees had to remain in service on the qualifying anniversary and that severance agreements settled all claims. The worker had appealed the Rights Commissioner's recommendation.