Labour Court recommends Friday hour reduction in Ormac 39-hour week dispute

In 1990, the Labour Court recommended that workers at Ormac Limited's clothing factory in Kells have one hour off each Friday as part of the move to a 39-hour week. The recommendation was signed on 28 May 1990. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union had sought the Friday reduction without a productivity increase, while the company proposed spreading the reduction across Monday to Thursday and increasing productivity. The union argued the company's approach could reduce bonus earnings and leave some workers waiting longer for lifts home. The company said reducing hours without increased productivity would raise unit costs by 2.5%. The Court recommended local negotiations on limiting the cost impact through productivity, with the dispute to return to the Court if no agreement was reached by the end of July.