The Labour Court recommended that Dunnes Stores provide canteen services and facilities at its new Jetland Shopping Centre store in Limerick to a standard no less favourable than at the former store. Its recommendation, dated 3 February 2006, followed a dispute with Mandate after 84 of 100 staff sought disturbance payments over the move.
The union said the staff had raised a grievance under the agreed procedure. Dunnes Stores rejected the disturbance claim and said the matter was closed. The Court found management had accepted and rejected the grievance, then refused to take it through the next stages; it concluded the procedure was exhausted and that it had jurisdiction to investigate the dispute.
The Court did not recommend concession of the disturbance-payment claim. It also recommended that both parties observe the grievance agreement and jointly refer future disputes over its interpretation to the Court. The staff's concerns included working hours and the canteen, while the union linked the disturbance claim to disruption and inconvenience from the move.