Labour Court parks lockkeepers’ Sunday work dispute for further talks

The Labour Court recommended that Waterways Ireland and the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union park their dispute over Sunday working while negotiations on revised arrangements for lockkeepers continue. The recommendation was signed on 6 March 2015. The dispute concerned 19 lockkeepers. Management proposed ending low-season Sunday work and limiting high-season Sunday work to an eight-hour day, citing low waterway traffic and the need to cut deficits. The union said Sunday work was part of the normal week, paid at double time, and that losing the premium would reduce earnings and pension payments. The Court said the Sunday-work issue was part of wider negotiations on revised working arrangements and recommended it be revisited as part of an overall agreement.