Labour Court recommends delaying new roster for lock-keepers

The Labour Court recommended delaying the Office Of Public Works’ new rostering arrangements until 1 December 1995 and arranging staffing to remove safety risks under the existing pattern through 30 November. The dispute concerned the 10-day fortnight worked by six lock-keepers. The recommendation, signed on 19 July 1995, noted the Court’s concern about the safety of the 10-day fortnight and the long-standing working pattern of those affected. The Office Of Public Works had proposed replacing it with an annualised-hours system; Services Industrial Professional Technical Union sought to retain the existing arrangement for workers who had long worked it.