Labour Court rejects union claim on stand-by wool pullers’ pay rate

The Labour Court found the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers’ Union’s claim over the pay rate for stand-by wool pullers was not well founded and did not recommend it be conceded. The recommendation was signed on 1 July 1996. The union sought the same rate as the two machine operators when stand-by pullers were required to operate the wool-pulling machine. John Ronan & Sons Ltd said the rate applying to the job was £16,500 and had been agreed at conciliation, while a higher personalised rate applied to the two permanent operators. The dispute followed the introduction of machinery that reduced the wool-pulling operation from eight workers to two machine operators. The Court considered the parties’ submissions and conciliation reports before rejecting the claim.