Labour Court declines unions’ claim for separate daily travel-time payment

The Labour Court did not recommend conceding Unite the Union and Connect Trade Union’s claim for a separate daily travel-time payment for mechanical engineering workers, including plumbers, pipe fitters and apprentices. The recommendation was dated 8 November 2022 and concerned the unions’ dispute with the Mechanical Engineering And Building Services Contractors Association (Mebsca). The unions sought to restore one hour of daily travel-time payment in two stages while keeping the current basic rate. MEBSCA said its members had incorporated that hour into basic pay in 2011 and that granting the claim would add costs equal to 12.8% of the current basic rate. The Court said the claim would reverse part of the 2011 agreement while retaining the value it added to basic pay, and found no reasonable basis to recommend granting it.