Labour Court recommends talks on Penneys late-opening dispute

The Labour Court recommended that Penneys and the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union begin immediate talks on late-opening conditions at the company’s Artane store. It said the talks should aim to vary the registered employment agreement to reflect changing retail trading patterns. The union sought overtime payments and other concessions for late trading, including an increased tea allowance. Penneys said trading hours were a company prerogative and pointed to established shopping-centre practice. Workers had picketed the store after refusing to co-operate with the new hours. The Court recommended that negotiations conclude by 30 June 1995. If they did not, it said it would be prepared to issue a definitive recommendation on the specific issue. The recommendation was signed on 28 October 1994.