Labour Court rejects union appeal over Smithkline Beecham redundancy

In 1991, the Labour Court rejected the Marine Port And General Workers Union’s appeal against a recommendation on a Smithkline Beecham sales representative’s selection for redundancy. The decision was signed on 28 October 1991, leaving in place a recommendation for up to eight weeks’ further employment and no change to severance terms. The union argued the company moved the worker to a financially troubled territory before selecting him for redundancy. Smithkline Beecham said the redundancy followed a downturn in business and the worker was selected based on shorter service and customer relationships. The Court considered the Rights Commissioner’s recommendation reasonable and upheld it.