Labour Court recommends shift and lieu-day changes in Irish Co-Op Society dispute

The Labour Court recommended changes to shifts, lieu days and holiday arrangements in a restructuring dispute between Irish Co-Op Society and the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union. Its recommendation was dated 1 March 2007. The company said its survival depended on the restructuring plan; the union accepted that change was needed but raised concerns about working conditions. The Court endorsed spreading four extra hours across Tuesday to Friday, with one extra hour each night, and recommended two emergency lieu days for 2007, subject to possible removal if abuse occurred and prior discussion with the union. It recommended accepting the company’s holiday formula, with consideration of personal difficulties, and no change to agreed redundancy terms. The Court recommended no pay increase beyond rises due under Towards 2016 and urged union members to accept the amended restructuring proposals in the interest of preserving jobs.