The Labour Court did not recommend conceding a pay claim brought by the Building and Allied Trades’ Union for approximately 600 furniture-industry workers. The recommendation was signed on 12 March 2001.
The union sought basic-pay parity with craft rates in construction, saying furniture workers’ rate was more than £90 below the average industrial wage. The National Furniture Manufacturers Association, representing about 45 companies, said the industries were not comparable and its members could not sustain further costs.
The Court said both sides were bound by the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness and that, under its terms, the Court was precluded from conceding the claim.