Labour Court recommends Roscommon Council consider scheme workers’ records in appointments

The Labour Court recommended that Roscommon County Council consider Job Initiative Scheme participants’ work records when making appointments, while keeping its open competition policy. It did not recommend the union’s claim for pay and conditions parity, advising that it be raised if a new scheme followed the current one, due to expire in May 2003. The recommendation, dated 24 October 2002, followed a dispute with Services Industrial Professional Technical Union. The union sought parity with full-time council employees and priority for permanent jobs. The Council said pay and conditions were set by FAS and permanent posts were filled through open competition. The Court noted that participants knew the scheme’s terms and that the Council joined on the understanding that it would involve no additional cost.