Labour Court recommends £500 each for 11 John Player & Sons foremen

In 2000, the Labour Court recommended that John Player & Sons pay £500 to each of 11 foremen to settle a dispute over annual salary reviews. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union said reviews were meant to reflect local agreements, pay increases, overtime and company performance. John Player & Sons said the 2.25% increase in October 1998 was the agreed review and pointed to salary increases after the move to personal salaries. The Court found the May increase had been brought forward in place of the expected October review, but that this had not been made clear in negotiations. It said both sides shared responsibility for the misunderstanding. The recommendation was signed on 2 March 2000.