Labour Court recommends 21 months’ actual loss for B & I Line dockers’ buy-outs

The Labour Court accepted the need for a further rationalisation programme in B & I Line’s Dockers Section, while recommending changes to the company’s proposals. Its recommendation, signed on 14 January 1993, set buy-out compensation at 21 months of actual loss, with half paid on acceptance and half six months later. The Court also recommended that existing casual-list employees keep their rights to future vacancies and that Clause 3 of P.E.S.P. not form part of the programme. Services Industrial Professional Technical Union had opposed the staffing and conditions changes and said the buy-out offer was inadequate. The Court cited the company’s financial position, sterling’s effect on earnings and market competitiveness.