Labour Court recommends Bitech Engineering bonus review and profit-sharing reconsideration

In 1999, the Labour Court recommended an urgent review of Bitech Engineering’s bonus scheme and that the company reconsider introducing gain-sharing or profit-sharing schemes. The recommendation was signed on 29 November 1999. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union sought a pay increase, arguing that basic rates were low compared with other engineering companies, and also sought profit sharing. Bitech Engineering said the pay claim breached Partnership 2000, and that it was willing to have the bonus scheme examined. The Court said it could not recommend a pay increase because the claim was outside the agreement. It recommended that a work study expert review the bonus scheme’s yields as a matter of urgency and that information be given to the union when available. The Court said the study could take eight to twelve weeks. It also recommended that the company reconsider gain-sharing or profit-sharing schemes. The company said it had spent £135,000 on employee facilities and increased its pension contribution by 1%, with another 1% planned for the next financial year.