Labour Court recommends Baxter Healthcare’s 25% weekend shift premium

In 2002, the Labour Court recommended that the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union accept Baxter Healthcare’s offer of a 25% premium for intermittent weekend shifts at its Swinford and Castlebar plants. The recommendation was dated 18 December 2002. The union said the payment should reflect the unsociable hours, through a higher shift allowance or overtime. Baxter said cost reductions prompted a change from an arrangement that paid 46 hours for 24 hours worked. The Court noted that volunteers would work the shifts and that their operation would not result in a loss of overtime. It considered the offer reasonable.