Labour Court asks Teagasc to consider cost-neutral allowance proposal

The Labour Court recommended that Teagasc consider any proposal from the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union to fund an upgrading for grade III clerical administrative staff on a cost-neutral basis. The recommendation was signed on 21 October 2003. The union sought a higher allowance for its members, saying staff in the same grade represented by another union received it. Teagasc said the claim would increase costs and was barred under the national agreement. The Court said the difference had arisen because one group agreed to proposals before an embargo took effect, while the other group was then precluded from doing so. It recommended that management consider proposals to finance the upgrading without increasing costs.