Labour Court recommends changes to AIB monthly pay plan

The Labour Court recommended changes to Allied Irish Banks PLC Trading As AIB Bank’s plan to move staff from weekly to monthly pay from 1 June 2013. Its recommendation was signed on 13 February 2013. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union said the Bank announced the change without prior engagement and cited a £500 grant agreed in 2000 when staff moved from weekly to fortnightly pay. The Bank said monthly payroll would streamline processing and reduce operational risk as it worked to restore viability. The Court recommended the company’s proposal as the basis for the change. It said one week of the three-week advance should be offset against employees’ “week in arrears” pay, reducing the amount they would repay by one week. It also recommended restoring a 12-month repayment option without benefit-in-kind tax, with the company paying the tax element, and assistance for employees changing standing orders and direct debits.