Labour Court rejects Unite appeals over Central Bank severance scheme

The Labour Court rejected Unite the Union’s appeals on behalf of three members and upheld the Rights Commissioner’s recommendation. The decision was signed on 9 November 2015. The members had been unsuccessful applicants to the Central Bank of Ireland’s 2014 voluntary severance scheme. Unite argued that the application process lacked transparency and consistency and sought consideration of the applications under a current scheme. The Bank said the applications had been assessed through a structured process and reviewed internally and by an independent third party. The Court said an employer can choose whether to accept applications under a voluntary severance scheme. The parties had agreed that, all other things being equal, the members’ disappointment would be taken into account if a future scheme became available to their staff category.