Labour Court rejects Wellman International appeal over worker’s grade four pay

In 1993, the Labour Court rejected Wellman International Limited’s appeal and confirmed a Rights Commissioner recommendation that a worker retain the grade four rate of pay. The dispute followed the worker’s transfer from a grade four job to a grade three position, with a loss of the higher rate. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union argued that the move was permanent and that the works agreement protected the worker’s grade rate. Wellman said employees were moved between grades and that it had offered the worker a grade four post from January 1993. The Court found the transfer to the higher-rated job was permanent and saw no grounds to amend the recommendation. It also urged the parties to define procedures for future transfers. The decision was dated 29 April 1993.