Labour Court tells union to raise caretakers’ shift-rate claim locally

The Labour Court recommended that the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union return to the relevant Local Authorities with its claim for improved shift rates for waterworks and sewerage caretakers in four authorities. The recommendation was signed on 7 November 2005. The union sought a standard T +1/3 payment and a new rate from 1 July 2003. The Court found the adjudicators’ terms of reference did not cover the shift claim and said the existing premiums had been set locally, so the claim had to be raised at local level first.