Labour Court recommends €6,000 settlement in Kilkenny council worker’s dispute

The Labour Court recommended that Kilkenny County Council increase its ex-gratia offer to €6,000 in a pay and responsibilities dispute with a worker represented by the Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union. The recommendation was signed on 24 June 2009. The worker sought regrading from Craft Foreman to Clerk of Works after sanitary services functions transferred from Kilkenny Borough Council. The union said his duties had increased considerably, including supervision of eight people instead of three. The Council disputed the extent of the change and said some former duties had been removed. The Council had offered a once-off €4,000 payment, which the worker rejected. The Court noted that he remained a supervisor but had more supervisory duties than before. It recommended that the worker and his union accept the increased €6,000 offer in full and final settlement.