Labour Court recommends National Gallery union accept attendant restructuring plan

The Labour Court recommended that the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union accept the National Gallery Of Ireland’s restructuring proposals for attendant grades and cooperate with their implementation. Existing regular allowances should be consolidated in full into the proposed Tier 2 scale, with future increases calculated using the full consolidated rate. The recommendation was signed on 25 September 2003. The dispute followed a review of grading and pay structures that identified problems in pay, work practices and management. The union opposed management’s proposed two-tier scale and changes to allowances, saying the proposals could harm workers’ long-term interests. Management said existing staff earnings would not fall and that restructuring was needed to address anomalies. The Court found the report’s concerns were substantial and its proposed restructuring sound, but said the parties had not seriously engaged on implementation. It recommended that they resume discussions at the Labour Relations Commission and conclude them by 31 October 2003.