Labour Court leaves £800-per-worker compensation claim rejected

In 1991, the Labour Court left unchanged a Rights Commissioner’s rejection of a union claim for £800 compensation for each of four workers moved from toiletries production to other work. Its recommendation was dated 31 July 1991. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union said the redeployment was permanent and changed the workers’ breaks and flexibility requirements beyond the parties’ agreement. Smith & Nephew (Ireland) Ltd relied on a 1980 agreement allowing workers to move between departments. The Court found no grounds to alter the earlier recommendation.