Labour Court calls for talks on Commissioners of Irish Lights pay cuts

The Labour Court recommended further negotiations over proposed pay reductions at Commissioners of Irish Lights, after finding the financial case had not been fully disclosed to the unions. The recommendation was signed on 9 September 2010. The employer sought cuts in line with Irish Civil Service reductions, saying it faced pressure from the Irish and UK governments to reduce costs. Services Industrial Professional Technical Union, Public Service Executive Union, Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union, and Irish Municipal, Public and Civil Trade Union opposed the claim, arguing the organisation was financially sound and that some employees were already paid less than comparable Civil Service grades. The Court called for the Commissioners to provide the unions with full financial information supporting the proposal. It also recommended that the parties examine the unions' pay-scale claim, with negotiations to conclude within two months before any outstanding issues could return to the Court.