Labour Court upholds €2,000 recommendation to worker passed over for council role

The Labour Court upheld a €2,000 recommendation to a worker passed over for a temporary Rate Collector role at Dublin City Council, in a decision dated 5 August 2015. The council had appealed the Rights Commissioner’s recommendation, and the Court found no reasonable basis to interfere with it. The worker, represented by the Irish Municipal Public and Civil Trade Union, said he had relevant experience and seniority. The council said the appointment was temporary pending a permanent competition and that the most suitable person had been chosen. The Court said management had wide discretion on suitability, but good practice called for explaining the choice when a less senior person was appointed over a more senior one.