Labour Court finds Stone Ideas covered by construction agreement

The Labour Court found Unite the Union’s complaint against Stone Ideas Limited well founded in a decision signed on 12 September 2011. Unite argued the company had failed to register its employees in the construction industry’s pension, assurance and sick-pay schemes. Stone Ideas said it was not a building firm and, alternatively, that its employees were outside the agreement. The Court found Stone Ideas’ principal business involved manufacturing and fitting stone worktops, making it a building firm under the agreement. It also found its employees were construction operatives covered by the agreement. The Court made no further order at that stage, allowing further discussions, and said it could make an appropriate order later if either party asked.