Labour Court recommends trial or independent study in Irish Biscuits break dispute

The Labour Court recommended two options for resolving a break-pattern dispute involving 18 mixing-department workers at Irish Biscuits Limited: a three-month trial of the company’s revised proposals, or a feasibility study by an agreed independent third party whose findings would bind both sides. The recommendation was dated 27 October 1998. The Amalgamated Transport and General Workers’ Union, Services Industrial Professional Technical Union and Bakers Food Workers Amalgamated Union said the mixing work differed from other departments and proposed staffing changes to cover breaks. Irish Biscuits Limited said its revised staffing plan was workable. The Court said it could not assess the competing arguments because clear reasons for objecting to the company’s proposal had not been given.