Labour Court recommends £400 lead-in payment for Aughinish Alumina operators

In 1992, the Labour Court recommended terms for a grading and flexibility dispute between Aughinish Alumina Limited and the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union. The recommendation was dated 12 February 1992. The union argued that general and process operators were offered less than craft workers despite their contribution and added flexibility. The company said pay improvements had to be funded by savings from revised working practices. The Court recommended that the overtime-loss claim be deferred for 12 months, with any losses then negotiated. It also recommended accepting the company’s savings-sharing proposals and a £400 lead-in payment to each general operative when the revised system was implemented, followed by £200 after six months.