In 1987, the Labour Court recommended further negotiations between Ballyellen Limestone Flour Works and the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union on a package for any compulsory redundancies. The recommendation was signed on 8 July. The union sought full redundancy terms under the Sugar Company agreement for about sixteen workers, including recognition of service before the 1978 takeover. For voluntary redundancies, the Court considered the company’s method of calculating service reasonable. The company said it had never agreed to recognise earlier service for its company lump sum.