In 1991, the Labour Court recommended that River Valley Products Limited reinstate 11 dismissed workers and recognise the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union in respect of its members. Its recommendation was dated 20 March. If any worker considered reinstatement unacceptable, the company and union were to negotiate reasonable compensation; the Court said it was prepared to make a recommendation if they could not agree.
The workers had been laid off over Christmas. When some returned in January, they found newly recruited staff doing their work. The union said the workers had been denied representation and unfairly dismissed. The company, which was located in Glasnevin Industrial Estate, Dublin, did not attend the Labour Court hearing, saying the matters were before the High Court. The Court considered the issues and found the company’s treatment contrary to normal good practice.