Labour Court rejects unions’ claim for higher pay for Techrete carpenters

In 1997, the Labour Court recommended that Techrete Limited not concede the Building and Allied Trades Union and Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians’ claim for higher pay for permanent carpenters. The recommendation was dated 21 November 1997. The unions said permanent carpenters’ £6.41 hourly rate was below the £11 rate paid to contract carpenters and valued their claim at £30 a week. Techrete said the costs were broadly similar and it had used contract carpenters after struggling to recruit experienced staff on its standard terms. The Court said questions about self-employed status were for other State agencies and declined to recommend the wage claim, citing the company’s intention to stop recruiting self-employed carpenters as soon as possible.