Labour Court rejects unions' supplement claim and recommends £50 tool allowance at Techrete

In 1994, the Labour Court rejected the Building and Allied Trades' Union and Union of Construction Allied Trades and Technicians' claim for the Construction Industry Supplement and recommended a £50 gross tool allowance for workers concerned at Techrete Limited. The recommendation was signed on 26 July 1994. The dispute concerned 12 carpenters. The unions said their rates had fallen behind comparable construction workers and argued that different tool allowances were inequitable. Techrete said the supplement did not apply to its manufacturing business and that it could not afford higher allowances. Four carpenters had agreed to a £50 weekly gross allowance and received £400 lump sums; later recruits received £35 weekly gross.