Labour Court recommends changes to United Drug transport work and driver payments

The Labour Court recommended changes to United Drug Limited’s transport arrangements in Limerick, including a £2,000 goodwill payment for each driver and a payment equivalent to nine months of each driver’s individual loss. The recommendation was signed on 12 March 1996. The company said high transport costs, mainly overtime, had reduced its margins and profits, and sought changes to working hours and overtime. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union disputed the company’s position and said drivers could lose up to £5,000 a year. The Court recommended accepting the company’s working-time proposals with amendments, accepting its Saturday-working proposals, and paying £300 to buy out the van-boy allowance. It also recommended the company’s lunch and tea allowances and returning vans to the depot at night.