Labour Court rejects sick pay claim by Services Industrial Professional Technical Union

The Labour Court rejected a claim by the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union to improve the sick pay scheme at William Connolly & Sons Limited, in a recommendation signed on 4 July 1996. The scheme paid £6 a week for up to 18 weeks, subject to a medical certificate. The union sought £50 a week and higher employee and employer contributions. William Connolly & Sons Limited said its scheme matched the industry arrangement and that higher costs would hurt its competitiveness. The Court found the scheme was not substantially out of line with standards in comparable employments. It recommended that the parties meet to agree how to progress a review of the scheme.