Labour Court recommends talks on dockers' tanker work at Foynes Port

The Labour Court recommended that Mainport Group Ltd and the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union hold meaningful talks on whether dockers should continue assisting with tanker loading and unloading at Foynes Port. The recommendation was signed on 8 July 2010. Mainport argued that dockers had no role after tanker connections were made and customers would not pay for the work. The union said a 2006 agreement protected the practice and that dockers had honoured it despite reduced tonnage and gang sizes. The Court found valid arguments for ending the practice but called for negotiations to begin immediately and finish by 16 August 2010. Unresolved issues could be referred back to the Court. It also recommended that the union discuss the matter collectively with the four stevedore companies employing the dockers.