Labour Court recommends rescinding Cork Plastics worker’s two-week suspension

The Labour Court recommended that Cork Plastics (Manufacturing) rescind a worker’s two-week unpaid suspension and retain a written warning for 12 months from the second incident. The recommendation was dated 7 December 2007. The dispute followed a disciplinary incident in June 2007. The union said the worker had reported an accident and was sanctioned too severely; the company said the warning and suspension were justified. The Court found the offence did not merit the level of sanction imposed and that the company had not correctly interpreted its procedures, while noting that some carelessness could merit a sanction. It also urged the parties to conclude discussions on a revised disciplinary procedure.