Labour Court recommends 50% payment for 25 Irish Biscuits operators

In 1996, the Labour Court recommended that Irish Biscuits pay 25 operators 50% of the amount due for time they worked on the plant, in full and final settlement of their regrading dispute. The decision was dated 4 September 1996. The dispute concerned a claim for retrospective compensation for 25 additional operators after the company accepted an earlier recommendation covering seven workers. The unions said the additional operators had periodically performed upgraded work at management’s request. Irish Biscuits opposed extending the payment, estimating the claim would cost £14,000. The Court said the company, unions and workers should have considered the implications of the regrading claim for other employees. It also considered that the additional operators deserved some consideration and recommended the payment as a full and final settlement. The unions were Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union, Services Industrial Professional Technical Union, and Bread & Floor Workers' Amalgamated Union.