Labour Court recommends two hours’ overtime for Otis Lifts workers sent away

The Labour Court recommended that Otis Lifts continue to provide a minimum of two hours’ overtime when workers were assigned to sites away from home, except when overtime was unavailable. The recommendation was dated 25 October 2007 and followed a dispute with the Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union over a proposed new agreement. The union opposed withdrawing guaranteed overtime, changing on-call arrangements and allowing engineers to work alone at lift shafts. The Court recommended that the company’s on-call proposal be accepted, with negotiation of once-off compensation if the new arrangements caused an individual to lose earnings during the first 12 months. It also recommended voluntary staggered hours, further discussion of shared help at multi-lift sites, and keeping current disciplinary arrangements.