Labour Court sends Celtic Media Print and Unite back to conciliation over proposed hours cuts

The Labour Court recommended that Celtic Media Print Limited and Unite return to conciliation to discuss the savings the company needs and how to achieve them. The recommendation was signed on 12 September 2018. Celtic Media Print proposed temporarily cutting full-time staff hours by five a week, with a corresponding salary reduction, and offered four permanent redundancies as an alternative. Unite opposed a reduction in members’ pay. The Court said the sides had done little or no work on the amount of savings required or how to make them. It also noted that the union had no opportunity to examine the company’s bank statement, which was presented at the hearing. The talks should last no more than six weeks unless both sides agree otherwise. Any unresolved issues should then return to the Court for a definitive recommendation.