In 1989, the Labour Court recommended an ex-gratia payment of £500 each to three former Bus Eireann tour couriers who had worked at least 32 tour days in 1988. The recommendation was signed on 3 November 1989. The National Busworkers Union sought compensation after six seasonal couriers were dropped from the 1989 tour panel. Bus Eireann said reduced business meant it no longer needed tour couriers and said the workers were given alternative work without loss of earnings. The Court found the couriers were dropped because of loss of business and had lost no earnings from the company. It noted that they had sustained an income loss that neither side could quantify, and recommended the payments to those who met the tour-day threshold.