Labour Court leaves union rights and dues questions for later talks

In 1988, the Labour Court recommended leaving the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union’s requests for negotiating rights and deduction of union dues at Anglo Irish Beef Packers (Cahir) for discussion at a later date. The recommendation was signed on 19 September 1988. The union wanted both provisions restored to its agreement with the company. Anglo Irish Beef Packers said the union’s withdrawal from an earlier agreement had ended compulsory membership and deduction of dues, and opposed bringing them back. The Court noted that industrial relations at the plant had improved and that the lack of a formal agreement on the issues was causing no apparent problems. It recommended revisiting them when confidence between the parties had been fully established.