Labour Court recommends talks on South Tipperary bonus scheme

The Labour Court recommended that South Tipperary County Council negotiate with Unite and SIPTU over the council’s proposal to withdraw a bonus scheme. The recommendation was signed on 4 February 2014. The unions said the bonus had been part of workers’ normal pay since 1959 and its removal would affect pay, pensions and productivity. The council cited public service commitments to remove unnecessary costs, the lack of similar schemes at other local authorities and the planned merger of local authorities in Tipperary. The Court said the Public Service Agreement’s formula for allowances did not guide how to end this bonus scheme, which it described as unusual in the public sector. It recommended negotiations on how the council’s proposal could be implemented. Talks should begin as soon as practicable after the recommendation is accepted, last no more than eight weeks, and unresolved matters may be referred back to the Court.