Labour Court recommends union accept Rowntree Mackintosh Ireland offer on shorter week

In 1990, the Labour Court recommended that the Amalgamated Transport And General Workers Union accept Rowntree Mackintosh Ireland's offer for applying the reduced working week. The recommendation was signed on 19 September 1990. Warehouse and road transport workers had sought 6.5 additional days of annual leave instead of an early finish, but the Court considered the company's offer reasonable. The union said an early finish would not work for drivers who worked a guaranteed 52-hour week or warehouse workers averaging 45 hours. The company said the national agreement provided for a one-hour weekly reduction, not extra annual leave, and offered an early finish on Thursday or Friday. It also said extra leave would require temporary staff at additional cost.