Labour Court recommends Elan talks on union recognition

The Labour Court recommended that Elan Corporation PLC and the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union try to agree arrangements for union representation within six months. The recommendation was signed on 26 April 1996. Elan said recognition could threaten the flexibility and security of supply needed by its pharmaceutical business and warned that investors might stop investing. The union said a significant number of workers in the relevant grades wanted representation and that it was willing to address the company’s concerns. Calling the circumstances unique, the Court recommended that if talks failed and matters remained unchanged, Elan recognise the union’s request to represent employees who wanted it.