Labour Court does not recommend Louth County Council worker’s reinstatement claim

The Labour Court recommended that a worker’s claim for reinstatement or a contract of indefinite duration be considered in future talks on long-term acting positions. It did not recommend granting the claim on its own. Louth County Council said the worker remained a permanent employee at his substantive grade and had filled a higher-grade post only in an acting capacity. The worker said he had been unjustly demoted and had lost income and status. The Court cited legal, public-policy and collective-agreement constraints on local-authority regrading, and noted discussions under the Haddington Road Agreement. The recommendation was signed on 5 November 2013.