Labour Court says Ward International summer bonus claim should fail

In 1993, the Labour Court recommended that a claim for a £150 summer bonus from Ward International workers fail, finding that the bonus was discretionary. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union said the bonus had been paid each year from 1988 to 1991 and that workers’ cooperation and output supported payment. Ward International cited difficult trading conditions and said the criteria for payment had not been met. The Court also suggested the parties discuss how to improve relations at the plant.