In 1993, the Labour Court rejected an appeal by the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union and confirmed a Rights Commissioner's recommendation that Kingscourt Brick & Co. Limited offer a worker one week's pay in settlement of a dispute over his return after lay-off. The decision was signed on 16 November 1993. The seasonal brick manufacturer, based in Kingscourt, Co Cavan, said the worker had been unavailable when work became available and had asked for leave. When he reported on 1 March, he was told no work was available; the company said he would be next in line when work became available.
The union said the worker expected to return after leave, did not start work until 10 May and lost £1,300. The Rights Commissioner said the company's practice gave workers returning from leave no right to replace more junior workers taken on during their absence.