Labour Court rejects union claim over casein workers’ transfers

The Labour Court recommended that Lakeland Dairies could temporarily redeploy casein workers to its butter department during the production season, rejecting the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union’s claim that an agreement barred transfers before the season ended. The recommendation was dated 23 January 2018. The union argued that its 2011 local agreement limited redeployment to the end of the casein season. Lakeland Dairies relied on a 2000 collective agreement allowing transfers as business needs arose. The Court found the 2011 agreement did not amend that transfer provision. The company also confirmed workers would suffer no financial loss from temporary redeployment.