Labour Court dismisses Verizon worker’s appeal over Works Council expert invoice

The Labour Court dismissed Jean-Philippe Charpentier’s appeal over €11,200 in disputed invoices for expert assistance to Verizon’s European Works Council. The Court varied the adjudicator’s decision, finding that Charpentier brought a collective dispute under a law designed to protect individual Works Council members. The decision was signed on 27 August 2024. Charpentier, who chairs the Council, sought payment from Verizon Ireland Limited for the expert’s invoice. Verizon accepted that the Council could receive funding for necessary and reasonable expert assistance, but disputed whether the complaint could proceed under section 17 of the Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Act 1996. The Court said it did not need to decide whether the invoice items were necessary or appropriate. It also refused Charpentier’s application for costs.