Labour Court does not recommend signalmen’s allowance claim at Irish Rail

The Labour Court did not recommend the Rail Operative Trade Union Group’s claim that Irish Rail extend a phased allowance for additional mainline signalmen duties to suburban signalmen. The recommendation was signed on 27 April 1989. The union relied on an earlier recommendation for basic-pay parity and argued that interchangeability between the groups supported extending the allowance. Irish Rail said the payment related to extra work and responsibility arising from expansion of the mainline system. The Court accepted that rationale and noted that suburban signalmen would receive the additional sum for periods when they performed mainline duties.