Labour Court Database __________________________________________________________________________________ File Number: CD8766 Case Number: LCR11082 Section / Act: S20(1) Parties: DUNNES STORES LTD. - and - ITGWU |
Claim on behalf of 37 workers for alignment of salary scales to those pertaining in Dunnes Stores outlets in other provincial towns of similar size.
Recommendation:
4. The absence of the Company from the hearing of this claim,
despite the existence of an agreement which includes the right of
reference to the Court, presented the Court with considerable
difficulty in dealing with the points made by the Union. The
Court urges the Company to honour the agreement in full.
Nevertheless, taking into account the general level of rates in
similar employments in the town the Court does not consider it
would be justified in recommending concession of the claim at this
time.
The Court notes that the parties have agreed the terms of the 26th
round increase.
Division: Ms Owens Mr McHenry Mr Walsh
Text of Document__________________________________________________________________
CD8766 THE LABOUR COURT LCR11082
SECTION 20(1) INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1976
RECOMMENDATION NO. LCR11082
Parties: DUNNES STORES LIMITED (LETTERKENNY)
and
IRISH TRANSPORT AND GENERAL WORKERS' UNION
Subject:
1. Claim on behalf of 37 workers for alignment of salary scales
to those pertaining in Dunnes Stores outlets in other provincial
towns of similar size.
Background:
2. The Company have been in the drapery and grocery trade in the
town for the past six years. They are the major employer in the
retail trade in the town. Under the 26th wage round the Company
proposed an increase of 3% from 1st June, 1986 and 3% from 1st
January, 1987 with increases in service pay. The agreement to
expire on 30th June, 1987. There is a no cost increasing clause
in the agreement. The wage increase is acceptable to the workers
but it came to light that their pay scales were out of line with
those applying in a number of Dunnes outlets in other provincial
towns (details supplied to the Court). The Union sought to
redress this situation. The Company's response was that when they
move to a town they pay the "town rate." This response did not
meet the Union's aspirations and they referred the issue to the
Labour Court for investigation and recommendation under Section
20(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1969 on 28th January, 1987.
The Union agreed to accept the recommendation of the Court. The
Company wrote to the Court to say that they would not be attending
the Labour Court hearing which was held in Donegal on 24th
February, 1987.
Union's arguments:
3. (a) The Company state that when they move to a town they
pay the "town rate." However although all of those
organised in the town pay on a similar scale there are
no joint negotiations. The companies in the town have
refused to enter into joint negotiations despite the
efforts of the Union to get these negotiations going.
(b) The Company have been a major success since they opened
in the town and it seems only reasonable that the
workers in Letterkenny be paid on a scale on par with
Dunnes workers in other outlets.
RECOMMENDATION:
4. The absence of the Company from the hearing of this claim,
despite the existence of an agreement which includes the right of
reference to the Court, presented the Court with considerable
difficulty in dealing with the points made by the Union. The
Court urges the Company to honour the agreement in full.
Nevertheless, taking into account the general level of rates in
similar employments in the town the Court does not consider it
would be justified in recommending concession of the claim at this
time.
The Court notes that the parties have agreed the terms of the 26th
round increase.
~
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
Evelyn Owens
_________________________
Deputy Chairman.
2nd April, 1987.
M.D./J.C.