Labour Court recommends 4.5% rise for Irish Lights technicians and painters

The Labour Court recommended a 4½% increase from 1 February 1987 for technicians and painters represented by NATIONAL ENGINEERING AND ELECTRICAL TRADE UNION, ELECTRICAL TRADES UNION, AMALGAMATED UNION OF ENGINEERING WORKERS and IRISH NATIONAL PAINTERS AND DECORATORS' TRADE UNION, in their claim against COMMISSIONERS OF IRISH LIGHTS. The recommendation was signed on 19 October 1988. The unions argued that their 26th wage-round claim predated the Programme for National Recovery offer. The Commissioners said the public-service terms had been applied elsewhere and that delay in negotiating followed normal practice. The Court considered a further increase should have been paid after the previous agreement expired, with the Programme for National Recovery terms beginning on 1 February 1988.