Labour Court rejects engineering helpers' holiday pay claim

In 1989, the Labour Court did not recommend conceding the General Unions; A.T.G.W.U./F.W.U.I./B.F.W.A.U.'s claim against Irish Biscuits Ltd for extra pay for engineering helpers during the holiday shutdown. The recommendation was signed on 19 December 1989. The unions sought about £600 for 13 helpers, who said they had followed the notified 7am to 6pm schedule while craft workers returned to longer hours. Irish Biscuits said the helpers' work depended on the craft workers and that the helpers had chosen to finish at 6pm. The Court found the two groups' work was interdependent and that the lack of formal consultation did not support compensation.