Labour Court Database __________________________________________________________________________________ File Number: CD86908 Case Number: LCR10983 Section / Act: S67 Parties: DUBLIN SCHOOL OF ENGLISH - and - ITGWU |
Claim, on behalf of five permanent and seven part-time teachers for an increase in pay under the 26th wage round.
Recommendation:
5. The Court having considered the submissions from both parties
recommends that the rates of pay for the claimants be increased by
6.5% from 1st May, 1986, and the agreement to terminate on 30th
April, 1987.
Division: Ms Owens Mr McHenry Mr Walsh
Text of Document__________________________________________________________________
CD86908 THE LABOUR COURT LCR10983
CC861200 INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1976
RECOMMENDATION NO. LCR10983
PARTIES: DUBLIN SCHOOL OF ENGLISH
(REPRESENTED BY THE FEDERATED UNION OF EMPLOYERS)
AND
IRISH TRANSPORT AND GENERAL WORKERS' UNION
Subject:
1. Claim, on behalf of five permanent and seven part-time
teachers for an increase in pay under the 26th wage round.
Background:
2. The school is engaged in English language tuition for foreign
students and the training of teachers in the teaching of English
as a foreign language. It employs five permanent teachers on a 12
month basis. These teachers are guaranteed 23 teaching hours per
week but normally work 33 hours. Seven part-time teachers have a
similar guarantee and work approximately the same hours over a
six-month period. All teachers are paid on an hourly basis and
the current hourly rate is #6.74. The school also employs other
part-time teachers on a purely hourly basis as required. The 26th
wage round fell due on 1st May, 1986. The Union claimed an
increase of 14% over a twelve month period and, following
discussions at local level, management offered an increase of
4.89% over twelve months. This offer was rejected by the Union
and the matter was referred, on 17th July, 1986, to the
conciliation service of the Labour Court. A conciliation
conference took place on 23rd September, 1986. No agreement was
reached, however, and the matter was referred to a full hearing of
the Labour Court for investigation and recommendation. The
hearing took place on 15th January, 1987.
Union's arguments:
3. (i) The claim for a 14% increase under the 26th round is
justified in the context of the average 26th round
settlement for a 12 month period being 6% and the
fact that the 24th and 25th round settlements in the
school were below the national average (details
supplied). Furthermore, the school, though the
largest and most successful in its field, pays less
to its teachers than the other language schools
(details supplied). The 14% is therefore constituted
as follows:-
6% : Average for 26th round.
2% : Slippage - previous rounds.
6% : To reduce the gap with the other
schools.
(ii) The teachers in the school are all highly qualified.
The school markets itself abroad on the
qualifications and experience of its teachers, yet
the pay is extremely low.
(iii) Schools such as this one are highly profitable.
Management's arguments:
4. (a) Conditions and remuneration of teachers were reviewed
and improved in 1982 which resulted in increased costs
and fees and a reduction in pupil numbers.
(b) Increases in pay since that period have been more than
1/3 higher than inflation. The current offer also
compares favourably with the current consumer price
index figure. Management does not consider that the
pay of these teachers is out of line, but that the
overall remuneration package compares favourably with
competitor institutions.
(c) It is not essential for the teachers to hold university
qualifications and the school does not consider itself
to be the largest institution of its kind in the
country.
(d) The school experiences keen international competition
and must use costly agents abroad to generate business.
It depends solely on course fees to generate income.
June to September is a busy period for the school while
the rest of the year is slack. Many overheads do not
fluctuate during the year in the way that business
does.
RECOMMENDATION:
5. The Court having considered the submissions from both parties
recommends that the rates of pay for the claimants be increased by
6.5% from 1st May, 1986, and the agreement to terminate on 30th
April, 1987.
~
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court.
Evelyn Owens
____9th__February,__1987. ___________________
A. K. / M. F. Deputy Chairman