Labour Court recommends new talks on Kerry Ingredients overtime rates

The Labour Court has recommended that Kerry Ingredients and the Technical, Engineering And Electrical Union resume talks on overtime rates for 32 electrician and technician staff. The recommendation was dated 9 October 2006. The union sought established industry overtime rates, retrospectively from 12 October 2004, saying enhanced basic pay did not make up for fewer call-outs at three of the four factories. Kerry Ingredients said the claim breached agreements and that maintenance staff had received a good deal in 2002. The Court said it could not resolve conflicting accounts of any undertaking on overtime rates. It noted that basic pay was in the upper quartile for craft workers while overtime rates were below accepted norms, and recommended transparent discussions, with an Industrial Relations Officer's help if needed, to normalise rates going forward.