Labour Court recommends employers’ pension position in newspaper dispute

The Labour Court recommended acceptance of the employers’ position on replacing the defined-benefit pension scheme with defined-contribution schemes in a dispute involving the Regional Newspapers & Printers Association of Ireland (Rnpai) and Unite / SIPTU. The recommendation was signed on 28 September 2012. The unions opposed replacing the nationally agreed scheme and sought a common provider. The Court noted that employers were prepared to maintain contributions at the same cash level and provide death-in-service benefits, while leaving the unions free to explore a common provider with the association.