Labour Court Database __________________________________________________________________________________ File Number: CD87115 Case Number: LCR11084 Section / Act: S67 Parties: IRISH PRINTING FEDERATION - and - IPU |
Claim for an increase in pay and conditions of employment under the 26th wage round.
Recommendation:
5. The Court on the basis of the submissions made and having
regard to the history of the negotiations on the 26th round claims
within the industry, recommends that the offer made by the
Federation should be accepted by the workers here concerned.
Division: Ms Owens Mr McHenry Mr Walsh
Text of Document__________________________________________________________________
CD87115 THE LABOUR COURT LCR11084
CC87273 INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1976
RECOMMENDATION NO. LCR11084
PARTIES: IRISH PRINTING FEDERATION
AND
IRISH PRINT UNION
Subject:
1. Claim for an increase in pay and conditions of employment
under the 26th wage round.
Background:
2. The Irish Printing Federation (IPF) which represents 58
member companies in the commercial printing and packaging sector
of the industry in the Dublin Metropolition area, negotiates wages
and conditions of employment collectively with the Dublin Printing
Trade Group of Unions (D.P.T.G.) representing 4,500 workers in
accordance with established procedures of a Registered Employment
Agreement (copy supplied to the Court) and the Joint Industrial
Council. In October, 1986 the D.P.T.G. lodged a number of claims
under the 26th wage round with the I.P.F. Following negotiations
the following settlement proposals emerged:-
14 month agreement 1st December, 1986, to the 31st January, 1988.
one month pause.
4% increase for seven months.
2% increase for six months.
Minimum payments of #5.65 and #2.99 to apply on first and second
phase increases respectively to Irish Transport and General
Workers' Union and Federated Workers' Union of Ireland (Women
Workers) rates.
The proposals were made subject to the following conditions:-
(1) Ongoing agreement to existing and Registered Agreement
dispute procedures.
(2) Ongoing agreement that at local plant level management and
Group Unions would discuss, agree and implement appropriate
measures for improving efficiency, competitiveness and
offsetting cost increases.
(3) No new cost increasing claims to be submitted or considered
during the period covered by the agreement.
It was agreed that discussions would take place with the D.P.T.G.
on sick pay and with the I.T.G.W.U./F.W.U.I. (Women workers) on
service pay and that implementation would be subject to formal
confirmation of acceptance on behalf of all Group Unions.
Following balloting on the proposals they were accepted by all the
constituent Unions of the D.P.T.G. with the exception of two, the
A.U.E.W. and the I.P.U. The proposals were subsequently accepted
by the A.U.E.W. The I.P.F. were requested to implement payment to
all Group Unions with the exception of the I.P.U. This was
agreed. The I.P.U. which represents 1,500 workers referred the
issue to the conciliation service of the Labour Court on 3rd
February, 1987. A conciliation conference was held on 18th
February, 1987. As no agreement was possible both parties agreed
to refer the matter to the Labour Court for investigation and
recommendation. A Labour Court hearing was held on 4th March,
1987.
Union's arguments:
3. (a) Three of the biggest employers in the industry made
substantial profits in the last financial year (details
supplied to the Court).
(b) The 26th wage round settlements have averaged 6% on an
annualised basis which is greater than that offered by
the Federation.
(c) The rate for printers has fallen behind the rates
payable to other craft workers particularly those in
the building trade, electricians and local authorities
(details supplied to the Court). The workers are
dissatisfied as they see themselves being passed out by
other crafts. They see a situation whereby from being
one of the highest basic paid crafts they are now one
of the lowest and this is not acceptable.
Federation's arguments:
4. (i) Recommended settlement proposals emerged from
collective negotiations between the IPF and DPTG
which included a cumulative pay increase
significantly in excess of current and forecast
inflation. This represents a further improvement in
real earnings having regard to the fact that during
the period covered by 24th and 25th round agreements
pay increases were also in excess of inflation.
(ii) IPF member companies are currently faced with
absorbing the ongoing cost (3.25%) of implementing
the reduction in the working week from 40 to 39 hours
from the 30th June, 1986, following Labour Court
Recommendation 10,300.
(iii) The other Group Unions have now confirmed acceptance
of the recommended settlement proposals and similar
terms have been accepted by all Printing Group
Unions, including members of the IPU in provincial
areas, which means that with the exception of IPU
members in Dublin, commercial printing industry
employees throughout the country have accepted the
basis of agreement. The IPF is not in a position to
improve the terms of the jointly recommended
proposals in full and final settlement of all 26th
round claims and any variation would involve
consequential claims from other unions.
RECOMMENDATION:
5. The Court on the basis of the submissions made and having
regard to the history of the negotiations on the 26th round claims
within the industry, recommends that the offer made by the
Federation should be accepted by the workers here concerned.
~
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court.
Evelyn Owens
___________________
2nd April, 1987.
M. D. / M. F. Deputy Chairman.