Labour Court recommends £1,500 payment for each worker who volunteered for training

In 1989, the Labour Court recommended that North Western Health Board offer and Irish Transport And General Workers' Union accept an ex gratia payment of £1,500 to each worker who volunteered for a special training course. The recommendation was signed on 20 October 1989. The union sought nationally agreed pay rates for general nursing students, arguing that participants took the course under protest and carried out patient-care work. The Board said the scheme was voluntary, locally agreed and financially necessary. The Court said the scheme arose in unusual circumstances and was unlikely to be repeated.