Labour Court rejects union’s travel allowance claim for painter

The Labour Court rejected the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians’ claim for a travel allowance for a painter temporarily transferred from St. Loman’s Hospital in Mullingar to Athlone District Hospital. Its recommendation was signed on 20 June 2011. The union argued that the worker’s direct journey to Athlone benefited the HSE. HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster said the journey was shorter than travelling from his original base and that he received subsistence payments. The Court found that the special arrangement for the transfer included subsistence but no travel allowance, and said there was no merit in the union’s claim.