Labour Court defers University of Limerick worker’s pay claim

The Labour Court deferred a worker’s claim for continued professorial pay at the University Of Limerick until after 1 September 2006, when the facts could be considered again. The recommendation was signed on 11 November 2005. The worker, who was Dean of Graduate Studies and had held a Jean Monnet professorship, said he had been assured he would remain on a professorial salary after the seven-year appointment. The University relied on the appointment’s seven-year term and said there was no evidence of such an assurance. The Court said the University could not retrospectively void the professorship, so that part of its December 2004 letter had no effect. It also said the worker had no loss of earnings at that time and would retain the professor title, and offered a further hearing if he considered one necessary.