Labour Court recommends £200 payment and shift premiums at Smurfit Cork plant

In 1997, the Labour Court recommended one-off payments of £200 to employees accepting three-shift working and £800 to employees required to move to three shifts for the first time at Smurfit Corrugated Cases Limited's Cork plant. The recommendation was signed on 27 June 1997. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union sought to retain a 33.3% premium for compressed shifts, while the company said three shifts were needed to meet demand. The Court recommended 33.3% for the first six months when compressed shifts were extended to a new area or person, and that a majority of employees choose the shift pattern. It recommended standard premiums of 25% for days and evenings and 33.3% for nights, including compressed shifts.