Labour Court recommends Dublin Port explain craft supervisor vacancies

The Labour Court recommended that Dublin Port Company give unions its reasons when it decides not to replace a departing supervisor and allow them to challenge the decision through company dispute procedures. The recommendation was dated 18 September 2013. The dispute followed voluntary severances that reduced the number of maintenance supervisors from six to three. The Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union, Unite, and the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians said the company should have engaged with them before deciding not to replace staff and argued their consent was required. Dublin Port Company said the changes were intended to maintain competitiveness and protect employment and had not harmed the craft group. The Court said management must assess whether a replacement is needed and explain its decision to the unions. The unions can try to persuade the company to change the decision and use its dispute procedures if no agreement is reached. The post need not be filled while those procedures are under way.