Labour Court recommends further talks on Iarnrod Eireann catering pay dispute

In 2005, the Labour Court recommended that Iarnrod Eireann and Services Industrial Professional Technical Union identify and address outstanding items in a restructuring dispute involving about 124 Network Catering workers. The recommendation was signed on 7 February 2005. The union said workers had agreed to productivity and flexibility changes in return for two phases of pay increases, but the second instalment had not been paid. Iarnrod Eireann cited substantial losses and said earlier pay increases had cost about €700,000 without the planned cost savings. The Court said the union’s claim for improved pay rates had merit and recommended that discussions be completed by mid-April 2005, with unresolved issues eligible for referral back.