Labour Court recommends first suitable vacancy for laid-off joiner

In 1987, the Labour Court recommended that Mccormack's Joinery Limited offer a laid-off joiner its first suitable vacancy, following the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians' claim for his reinstatement. The recommendation was signed on 25 November 1987. The company said worsening market conditions led it to lay off 16 workers in November 1986, and later offered those still laid off statutory redundancy or a prolonged lay-off. The union argued that the worker had been unfairly selected and that consultation could have helped preserve jobs. It also alleged the lay-off was linked to a 1985 recognition dispute. The Court said the uneasy relationship between the company and union had contributed to the dispute. It recommended the vacancy offer as a way to address the specific claim.