Labour Court calls for final conciliation attempt in four-shift dispute

In 1996, the Labour Court called for one final conciliation attempt in a dispute over the four-shift cycle at Schering-Plough (Avondale) Company, after the company and the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union failed to agree terms. The recommendation was signed on 13 August 1996. The union argued that shift work had detrimental effects, that a wage-rate gap of about 9% with the company's Brinny plant needed to be addressed, and that lost overtime income should be recognised. The company said the shift cycle was needed to meet product demand and retain its US parent company's confidence. The Court noted the parties' long-standing working relationship and the common ground reached during conciliation. It recommended that they make a final attempt to resolve their differences; if they could not agree, the Court said it would issue a recommendation.