Labour Court recommends against Lufthansa Airmotive upgrading claim

The Labour Court recommended against conceding a Services Industrial Professional Technical Union claim for an agreed process to assess upgrading requests from ten general operatives at Lufthansa Airmotive Ireland Limited in Rathcoole, Co Dublin. The union sought a process involving management, a SIPTU industrial engineer and, if needed, an independent assessor. It argued that new processes and engines had added to workers’ responsibilities without adequate pay. Lufthansa Airmotive Ireland Limited said the duties were appropriate to the workers’ grade and the claim breached Partnership 2000. The Court recommended against the claim, citing the agreed grading structure. Its recommendation was signed on 26 November 1999.