Labour Court recommends Burlington Industries withdraw shop steward’s final warning

In 1987, the Labour Court recommended that Burlington Industries (Ireland) Limited (Tralee) withdraw a final written warning issued to a shop steward after an exchange with a supervisor. The recommendation was signed on 26 March 1987. The Court considered the warning too harsh in light of previous similar incidents and both men’s willingness to come to terms. It recommended withdrawal on the assumption that the worker would be more discreet in future. On the shift transfer, the Court said the company should retain the ability to move workers between shifts to avoid clashes and friction; it did not recommend returning the shop steward to shift A. The dispute was brought by the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union, which said the language was contested and argued the transfer was disciplinary.