In 1993, the Labour Court recommended improved redundancy compensation for secretarial assistants employed by Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Democratic Left, and paid by the Department Of Finance.
The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union sought better terms, arguing that average service was three years and existing severance payments could amount to less than two months’ salary. The employers said the terms had operated through two general elections and that the total payroll remained unchanged as party staffing shifted.
The Court recommended compensation of four weeks’ pay per year of service, plus statutory entitlement, with a minimum of two months’ salary. It also recommended reviewing employment arrangements with workers and representatives and making every effort to achieve staff changes voluntarily. The recommendation was dated 8 March 1993.