Labour Court recommends €65,000 salary in KEMEK hours plan

The Labour Court recommended an annual inclusive salary of €65,000 for a proposed annualised-hours system at Kemek Ltd (Irish Industrial Explosives), alongside changes to redundancy terms and selection. The recommendation was signed on 28 August 2009. It recommended raising the cap on the ex gratia element by €20,000, offering redundancies voluntarily first and then using last in, first out subject to retaining essential skills. Redundancies should be confined to the Enfield plant, with no disadvantage for workers who did not sign up early. The Court noted the company's assurance that workers taking the new contracts would receive training for the Driver/Shotfirer role. The company sought 10 redundancies and greater flexibility from those retained. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union opposed the selection criteria, said 10 redundancies were excessive and sought improved redundancy terms; it also said annualised hours could reduce earnings by up to 50%.