Labour Court upholds unions’ public holiday pay appeal

The Labour Court upheld the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union and Amalgamated Transport and General Workers’ Union appeal over public holiday pay for workers laid off during a phased return to work at Packard Electric (Ireland) Limited. The decision was signed on 5 October 1987. The unions said the February agreement preserved holiday entitlements during lay-off. Packard Electric argued that payments were limited to workers who had returned by the holiday date. The Court found that shop stewards who accepted the company’s interpretation had exceeded their mandate. Because the agreement did not distinguish between annual leave and public holidays, the Court accepted the unions’ interpretation.