Labour Court upholds recommendation in Kerry County Council dumper dispute

In 1998, the Labour Court upheld the Rights Commissioner’s recommendation in a dispute between Kerry County Council and a worker over his removal of a dumper from the Council yard. The decision was dated 12 January 1998. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union appealed, saying the worker had permission to borrow the dumper and that the Council’s involvement of the Gardaí and his subsequent redeployment were unfair. The Council said the removal was unauthorised. The Rights Commissioner’s recommendation included a £250 ex gratia payment for possible financial loss. At the hearing, the Council clarified that the worker would not be excluded from dumper work and would be assigned duties as near to Castleisland as practicable. Both sides agreed that management could allocate work and deploy staff. The Court upheld the recommendation and rejected the union’s appeal.