Labour Court recommends 12-month trial of Avonmore pay scheme with earnings guarantees

In 1991, the Labour Court recommended a 12-month trial of Avonmore Foods PLC’s proposed performance-based pay scheme for 43 heavy haulage drivers. The recommendation was signed on 23 September 1991. The company said the scheme was needed to improve competitiveness and protect jobs. Services Industrial Professional Technical Union argued that drivers risked losing earnings and that the company had not provided evidence to support the proposed rates. The Court recommended a monitoring committee to address problems with the scheme and protect workers’ earning capacity. Drivers would receive their average earnings for the first three months. For the next three months, they would be guaranteed at least 80% of average earnings or annualised earnings of £16,000 for farm delivery drivers and £20,000 for heavy haulage drivers, whichever was higher. Those annualised minimums would apply for the rest of the trial, which the parties were to review at the end.