Labour Court recommends one more higher-paid craftsman appointment at South Tipperary County Council

The Labour Court recommended that South Tipperary County Council fill its existing craftsman vacancy at the higher rate on this occasion, before moving to the tradesperson rate under specified conditions. The recommendation was signed on 29 April 2008. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union sought to retain the craftsman post as a promotional opportunity for tradesmen. The Council argued that the post’s duties had changed and should be graded and paid as a tradesperson role. The Court accepted that the Council was justified in seeking to correct what it considered an anomaly, while recognising that existing staff had expected the post to remain higher paid. It recommended filling the current vacancy on the previous basis. If the appointee held the post for at least five years, later appointments should be at the tradesperson rate. If the appointee stayed for less than five years, the post could be filled once more at the higher rate before reverting.