Labour Court says Waterways Ireland worker’s sanction should stand

The Labour Court determined that a Waterways Ireland worker’s sanction for refusing to carry a work phone should remain in place until its scheduled expiry. The decision was signed on 23 September 2019. The worker had agreed at first to carry a phone while working alone near water, but later refused. The Court found the refusal unreasonable and said it was not unreasonable for Waterways Ireland to impose a significant sanction. It said the employer’s proposal posed no threat to the worker’s terms or conditions. The worker was represented by the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union.