Labour Court sets out shift-work options for Group Schneider/Telemecanique workers

In 1998, the Labour Court recommended that Group Schneider/Telemecanique (Ireland) Limited first seek volunteers to move from day work to shifts. If that did not meet the company's needs, it recommended voluntary part-time options, including a one-off £100 per year of service for eligible long-serving day workers who accepted part-time work. If the company still needed more shift workers, employees hired before 1988 could be assigned on a Last In First On basis, with a severance package available where compelling circumstances prevented an employee from accepting shift work. The Court also recommended exploring transport help for long-serving day workers moving to shifts. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union said affected workers had long worked days; the company relied on the written agreement and its commercial needs. The Court said the agreement permitted required shift work but past practice and personal disruption should be considered. The recommendation was signed on 9 April 1998.