Labour Court rejects Gallaher union claims on VHI subsidy and pay dates

The Labour Court rejected the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union’s claims for a higher VHI subsidy for general operatives at Gallaher (Dublin) Limited and for harmonised pay-round dates. The recommendation was signed on 9 November 2001. The union sought to bring the subsidy into line with that paid to clerical and administrative staff and to align the general operatives’ pay-round increases with those grades. The Court said both claims would increase costs and that the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness prevented it from recommending their concession.