Labour Court Database __________________________________________________________________________________ File Number: CD87365 Case Number: LCR11603 Section / Act: S67 Parties: JURY'S HOTEL P.L.C. - and - IRISH TRANSPORT AND GENERAL WORKERS' UNION;DUBLIN NO. 4 BRANCH |
Improved salary scales for housekeepers and office workers.
Recommendation:
5. Having considered the submissions made by the parties the
Court is of the opinion that the Union's claim for housekeepers
and office staff based on the introduction of or use of amended
computer systems is not sustainable in either case as in neither
grade has any job changed in its essentials nor have the
conditions under which it is being done, altered. The Court does
not therefore recommend concession of the Union's claims in this
respect.
On the matter of the regrading of the housekeeping staff the Court
is of the opinion that, if as Management appear to accept the job
as it is at present being carried out, warrants such regrading
this should be done. The existence of an anomalous wage
relativity should not prevent this exercise being carried out
without delay particularly as the anomaly exists to a greater
degree with the existing housekeeper grade. The Court recommends
that this exercise be carried out without further delay.
Division: Mr O'Connell Mr Collins Mr Devine
Text of Document__________________________________________________________________
CD87365 RECOMMENDATION NO. LCR11603
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1976
SECTION 67
PARTIES: JURY'S HOTEL P.L.C.
(REPRESENTED BY THE FEDERATED UNION OF EMPLOYERS)
and
IRISH TRANSPORT AND GENERAL WORKERS' UNION
(DUBLIN NO. 4 BRANCH)
SUBJECT:
1. Improved salary scales for housekeepers and office workers.
BACKGROUND:
2. In late 1986 discussions took place on the Hotel's intention
to develop and update its computer facilities. The Union are
claiming an improvement in salary scales arising out of this
development. Local level meetings took place at which no
agreement could be reached and on 14th January, 1987 the matter
was referred to the conciliation service of the Labour Court.
Conciliation conferences took place on 23rd February, 1987 and
18th March, 1987 at which no progress was made and on 22nd April,
1987 the matter was referred to the Labour Court for investigation
and recommendation. Labour Court hearings were held on 4th June,
1987 and 3rd December, 1987. (The Union prepared a more detailed
submission in the interim).
UNION'S ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. In 1986 the Hotel sought the introduction of improved
computer facilities and work practice changes in the
receptionist/telephonist areas and a self-financing agreement
was negotiated with the co-operation of this Union. This
provided inter alia for the payment of an additional #22 per
week in two phases on each point of the salary scales. The
benefits accruing from the system were divided equally
between the workers' and the Hotel. Prior to this agreement
office/housekeeping workers and receptionist/telephonist
workers were on common scales and the new scales for
receptionist/telephonists (details supplied to the Court)
should be applied to office/housekeeping staff for the new
computer work introduced.
2. There are currently 5 housekeepers employed in the Hotel
who are responsible for a large number of workers and who
have an extensive range of duties (details supplied to the
Court). On the basis of their existing responsibilities
alone a separate claim exists to have them regraded from
grade 2 to grade 3 (details supplied to the Court). With the
introduction of computers they are also now required to enter
information on the computer. The Hotel has indicated (by
letter of 23/7/87) that it is amenable to reviewing their
scales but that this should be undertaken in conjunction with
the computerisation aspect. This is unacceptable to the
Union, an upgrading of the scales based on their duties must
take place separately from an increase based on the
introduction of computers. The Housekeepers should have
their salary scales increased, possibly on a phased basis, up
to the level of the scales for receptionist/telephonists
and on a separate basis should be regraded up to grade 3 on
an agreed basis with the Hotel.
3. In the office area, the original computer was installed
approximately 5 to 6 years ago, no adjustments were made in
the workers pay for the additional skills/responsibilities
involved. A new computerised system has been introduced
again without any negotiated increase for the workers
concerned. The Hotel has benefitted through improved
efficiencies, better management control information,
reduction in staff and a reduction in office pay roll costs.
The current scale on which the office workers' are paid
should be increased on an agreed phased basis to the same
levels of scales as now apply to receptionists/telephonists
(details supplied to the Court).
HOTEL'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1. There is a need for on-going change to take place in the
hotel industry. This Hotel is attempting to up-date its
existing computer facilities in order to improve the quality
of service and to keep pace with with changes taking place in
competitors organisations.
2. The Hotel has had a computer in operation in the office
area for many years. The changes involved in this area are
not significant and can only be regarded as normal on-going
change.
3. An earlier productivity agreement was negotiated for the
front office staff which resulted in increases in pay for the
workers concerned. However the changes involved in that case
were major and also resulted in real savings, which were
shared with the workers. This arrangement was made on the
basis, that there would be no "knock-on" claims from other
groups.
4. The Hotel has re-confirmed to the Union that it will
discuss a review of the Housekeepers scales on the basis of
their duties however this can only take place when the
computerisation issue has been dealt with.
5. There is no justification in this case for any increases
in pay for the workers concerned in this claim, arising out
of the changes in the computer systems that the Hotel is
implementing, on the basis of the work changes that are
required. The rates of pay of the workers compare favourably
with other organisations in the industry and concession of
the claim would have knock-on effects not only in this Hotel
but throughout the hotel industry. In similar claims in
other employments the Labour Court has not recommended in
favour of extra payments (L.C.R. Nos. 7636, 8674, 10093 and
10998 refer).
RECOMMENDATION:
5. Having considered the submissions made by the parties the
Court is of the opinion that the Union's claim for housekeepers
and office staff based on the introduction of or use of amended
computer systems is not sustainable in either case as in neither
grade has any job changed in its essentials nor have the
conditions under which it is being done, altered. The Court does
not therefore recommend concession of the Union's claims in this
respect.
On the matter of the regrading of the housekeeping staff the Court
is of the opinion that, if as Management appear to accept the job
as it is at present being carried out, warrants such regrading
this should be done. The existence of an anomalous wage
relativity should not prevent this exercise being carried out
without delay particularly as the anomaly exists to a greater
degree with the existing housekeeper grade. The Court recommends
that this exercise be carried out without further delay.
~
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
John O'Connell
__________________________
17th December, 1987 Deputy Chairman.
U.M./J.C.