Labour Court sets weekly rates of €465 and €445 at QK Coldstores Liimited

The Labour Court set weekly pay rates of €465 for high reach forklift drivers and €445 for counter balance forklift drivers at QK Coldstores Liimited. In a determination dated 14 November 2006, it also addressed overtime, sick pay, pensions, safety, working hours and workplace procedures. Services Industrial Professional Technical Union had asked the Court to address outstanding issues after saying the company had not implemented an earlier recommendation. Management said it was reluctant to implement the terms because workers were not meeting overtime availability requirements. The Court said the rates should rise in line with new national wage agreements from 1 June 2006. In return for the increases, workers should facilitate requested Saturday and Sunday overtime during peak season. The company should endeavour to provide rosters at the start of the season and make efforts to agree them with workers. The determination also provided for a sick pay scheme, required the company to honour its commitment to review pension contributions in mid-2007, and said its health and safety commitments should be honoured. Changes to starting or finishing times required at least 24 hours’ notice, while Friday overtime after normal finishing time had to be notified by 2pm that day. The Court did not concede the union’s claim concerning the Code of Practice on Employee Representatives because the company did not engage in collective bargaining.