Labour Court Database __________________________________________________________________________________ File Number: CD87881 Case Number: LCR11586 Section / Act: S67 Parties: ROCHES STORES LIMITED - and - IRISH TRANSPORT AND GENERAL WORKERS' UNION |
Various claims under the 27th wage round.
Recommendation:
5. The Court is of the view that the Company's offer contained in
a letter of the 28th September, 1987 is fair and should be
accepted. The Court also considers that in the particular
circumstances the Company should concede the Union's claim for
parity of pay for the 2 day cleaners with the general distribution
workers.
The Court so recommends.
Division: Ms Owens Mr Heffernan Mr Walsh
Text of Document__________________________________________________________________
CD87881 RECOMMENDATION NO. LCR11586
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1976
SECTION 67
PARTIES: ROCHES STORES LIMITED
(REPRESENTED BY THE FEDERATED UNION OF EMPLOYERS)
AND
IRISH TRANSPORT AND GENERAL WORKERS' UNION
SUBJECT:
1. Various claims under the 27th wage round.
BACKGROUND:
2. The claim concerns 100 general workers at the Company's stores
in Cork City and Wilton. The Union, on their behalf served the
following claim on the Company.
1. A 10% wage increase over 12 months plus parity with
counterparts in Dublin.
2. Dinner and tea allowance to be increased pro-rata with %
wage increases.
3. An increase in service pay related to number of years
service.
4. Hospital charges V.H.I. Plan P, Company to pay 50% for
workers per annum.
5. Day cleaners (2) rate to be brought up to general worker
rate.
6. Extra week service holidays.
The Company offered a wage increase of 3% from 1st June, 1987,
followed by 2% increase from 1st January, 1988, and meal allowance
to increase pro-rata.
The Company rejected claims 3, 4, 5, and 6 because similar claims
had been rejected in other locations and prior to the conclusion
of the 27th wage round no concessions in these areas had been
agreed with I.D.A.T.U. in the Cork Trades, which involves over
3,000. The Company also rejected the parity claim and told the
Union that it was based on misinformation as the Cork rates were
1.16% higher than those applying to the same category of workers
in Dublin. Agreement could not be reached at local level, and on
21st October, 1987, the matter was referred to the conciliation
service of the Labour Court. A conciliation conference took place
on 19th November, 1987. No agreement was reached, and on 20th
November, 1987, the matter was referred to the Labour Court for
investigation and recommendation. A Court hearing took place in
Dublin on 1st December, 1987.
UNION'S ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. The workers consider that the wage offer is inadequate as
it does not compensate them in a 14 month agreement. It is
also inferior to the agreement in wages and conditions secured
for workers in other comparative companies, in Cork who were
on a par with the workers here concerned and who now will go
ahead of Roches Stores.
2. Service Pay:-
The Union feels that the improvements sought by it are quite
reasonable and should be conceded.
3. Day Cleaners Rate Increase:-
As there are only 2 people involved in this claim, the Union
fails to see that this would be a major cost factor for the
Company. The Union see it as a claim in natural justice for a
rate in common with the other general workers.
4. Extra Service Leave:-
The Union would suggest 3 extra days leave after 3 years, 4
days after 7 years and 5 days leave for those of 10 years
service or over.
5. 12 Month Agreement - No Pay Pause:-
The Union's members strong views on these claims are due to
the fact that each year extra months are added to the
agreements. The 26th wage round was for a total of 13 months
and the current proposals are for 14 months.
6. It is the feeling among the workforce that they are
gradually falling behind everyone else. This is felt
particularly strongly by the workers in Roches Wilton who are
in the further anomalous position whereby they do not enjoy
the bonus payments of the Patrick Street members of the same
Union.
COMPANY'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1. The Company indicated from the outset that its objective
was to secure a reasonable settlement to the pay round which
reflected business realities in the retail trade.
2. Any extra cost undertaken by the Company could only be
addressed in the form of a general pay increase only. It
could not address the other claims in these most difficult
times.
3. The Company's offer of 5% over 14 months was in their view
a most fair and reasonable offer, taking into consideration
that there was a carryover of 3.7% into 1987 and inflation had
annualised at 3.2%.
4. 4. Galway, Dublin, Limerick and Cork Distributive Traders had
settled for the same offer i.e. 5% over 14 months in two
phases with all other claims withdrawn. The No. 15 Branch of
the Union in Dublin representing a similar category of worker
settled for 4% over 12 months, on phase.
5. Any settlement at the Company's stores in Cork which is in
excess of terms accepted by the vast majority of staff in
these stores, and all the staff in the other stores in Roches
Stores Group, would have most serious repercussions for the
Group.
RECOMMENDATION:
5. The Court is of the view that the Company's offer contained in
a letter of the 28th September, 1987 is fair and should be
accepted. The Court also considers that in the particular
circumstances the Company should concede the Union's claim for
parity of pay for the 2 day cleaners with the general distribution
workers.
The Court so recommends.
~
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court.
Evelyn Owens
__17th___December,___1987. ___________________
P. F. / M. F. Deputy Chairman