Labour Court recommends redundancy scheme talks for Tote Ireland workers

The Labour Court recommended that Tote Ireland Limited and the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union agree in principle to a redundancy scheme for five workers known as the Core Group, or negotiate an alternative package with guaranteed work on new conditions. The recommendation was signed on 13 July 2009. Tote Ireland said significant elements of the workers’ duties had ceased and offered either four weeks’ pay per year of service, inclusive of statutory redundancy, or €15,000 each with fewer guaranteed days at casual rates. The union argued that casual workers would take over the work and challenged the redundancy decision. The Court recommended further negotiations on the scheme or alternative arrangement, to begin as soon as possible and conclude within six weeks. Outstanding issues could be referred back to the Court.