Labour Court recommends phased end to Pfizer lead hands’ extra pay

The Labour Court recommended that Pfizer phase out the extra pay for 17 former lead hands after their role was discontinued as part of an agreed restructuring. The recommendation was signed on 19 June 2008. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union argued the established rate should be protected, while Pfizer said the role no longer existed and the higher rate should end. The Court said indefinite protection was not viable. It recommended that, until the Bio-Chemical Operator rate caught up with the Lead Hand rate, half of each increase go into the rate and the balance be paid as a lump sum. It also recommended a payment into an AVC pension scheme for each current lead hand, calculated by multiplying the weekly value of the payment by the number of years received. The recommendation depended on cooperation with the restructuring, including ending the Lead Hand role.