Labour Court recommends joint action on heat at Boxmore Plastics

The Labour Court recommended that Boxmore Plastics Limited and the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union work together to reduce heat and discomfort at the plant. The recommendation was dated 24 November 2003. The union sought a 5% pay increase, arguing that HACCP clothing requirements added to discomfort in an already hot workplace. The company said the clothing standards had largely been in place since 1995 and HACCP was required by customers and the industry. The Court said the production process caused high temperatures and HACCP gowning could worsen discomfort, but this did not justify a pay increase. It recommended a joint initiative to identify measures to ease the discomfort and monitor the situation; it did not recommend conceding the pay claim.