Labour Court recommends talks on Bord Na Mona Feedstock changes

The Labour Court recommended that Bord Na Mona and the Bord Na Mona Group of Unions jointly engage an independent financial adviser to assess their proposals for savings in the Feedstock Division, then resume discussions. The recommendation was signed on 3 November 2015. The dispute concerned cost reductions and changes to the division. The unions sought protection for existing terms and no compulsory redundancies; Bord Na Mona said savings were needed to secure the business and protect jobs. The Court recommended no compulsory redundancies during any agreement arising from the transformation proposals, provided the union side cooperated with alternatives such as redeployment and flexibility. It also recommended protecting existing staff earnings under the company's proposal, withdrawing the proposed bonus cap, discussing the union pay claim and using November 2013 terms if voluntary redundancies occurred. For Boora, the union side should accept Blackwater as the personnel base; the Court noted the company's readiness to pay a relocation allowance, which the parties should accept.