Labour Court rejects union’s special-pay claim for Royal College Of Surgeons staff

In 1990, the Labour Court rejected the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union’s claim for a special pay increase for Royal College Of Surgeons porters and cleaners. The recommendation was signed on 26 November 1990. The union argued earlier special pay awards had established a precedent and sought the current phased increases. The College said it negotiated its own rates and had no agreement to match public service awards for porters and cleaners. The Court found no established agreement requiring the awards and recommended that the union take up the pay issue in negotiations on interchangeability, rosters and the 39-hour week.