In 1994, the Labour Court recommended accepting Irish Rail’s productivity proposals with changes to payments, rosters and working arrangements. The recommendation, signed on 25 April 1994, followed negotiations between Irish Rail and the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union and the National Bus and Rail Union.
The Court recommended a 20% increase in lump sum payments offered to train guards, along with two £600 payments for specified Freight Guards. Each locomotive driver affected by the removal of mileage payments would receive £1,000, compensation based on 1993 mileage earnings and a £5.77 weekly pay increase. It said the £5,000 maximum for loss of earnings was not unreasonable, except for the mileage compensation.
The Court said the changes were needed to meet competition and support Irish Rail’s commercial viability and employment. It urged fair implementation and continuing monitoring of the agreement.