Labour Court calls for Irish Rail talks on productivity and work changes

The Labour Court recommended that Irish Rail and the Rail Operative Trade Union Group jointly assess work-practice changes and increased responsibilities linked to staff reductions since 1985. The recommendation, dated 10 September 1990, also called for talks on current and future work practices and an agreement on handling any savings before 31 December 1990. The union’s productivity-pay claim had previously not been conceded. After the parties interpreted that recommendation differently and failed to address the substantive issues, the Court set out a new process for negotiations and offered help if they could not agree.