Labour Court leaves Aer Lingus payroll recommendation unchanged

In 1987, the Labour Court left unchanged a Rights Commissioner's recommendation after Aer Lingus temporarily switched weekly paid staff to cheque-only wages following an armed payroll robbery at Dublin Airport. The decision was signed on 24 August 1987. The Irish Transport and General Workers' Union and the Federated Workers' Union of Ireland (Civil Aviation Branch) had appealed. They argued the company breached agreements by changing the payment method without prior discussion and sought restoration of three hours' lost pay deducted after a stoppage. Aer Lingus said the change was needed to protect staff and payroll funds and that it returned to the previous payment system the following week. The Rights Commissioner had recommended that Aer Lingus acknowledge breaking the agreement, while the unions accept that workers affected by the deductions were due no payment or benefit. The Labour Court found no grounds to alter that recommendation.