Labour Court Database __________________________________________________________________________________ File Number: CD88413 Case Number: LCR11968 Section / Act: S67 Parties: THE LABOUR PARTY - and - FEDERATED WORKERS UNION OF IRELAND |
Claim by the Union for the upgrading of a printer.
Recommendation:
5. Having considered the submissions made by the parties, the
Court recommends that the Parliamentary Labour Party should employ
whatever means are available to it to upgrade the holder of the
post concerned to the appropriate point on the Executive Officer's
scale.
Division: Mr Fitzgerald Mr Shiel Mr O'Murchu
Text of Document__________________________________________________________________
CD88413 RECOMMENDATION NO. LCR11968
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1976
SECTION 67
PARTIES: THE LABOUR PARTY
and
FEDERATED WORKERS UNION OF IRELAND
SUBJECT:
1. Claim by the Union for the upgrading of a printer.
BACKGROUND:
2. The worker was appointed as a printer by the Labour Party at
the Civil Service Clerical Officer scale in June, 1982. He was
responsible for the operation of three machines. In December,
1987 the Party introduced three new machines and the worker was
required to attend a training course. Following the introduction
of these new machines the Union served a claim on the Party for
the upgrading of the worker to Executive Officer grade. A local
level meeting took place at which the Party's position was that it
would seek sanction from the Department of Finance for an
upgrading. (The number and grade of posts which a political Party
holds is based on the strength of the Party in the Dail).
Following this the Party sent a request for upgrading of the
worker to the Department of Finance, - no reply had been received
as yet. On 13th April, 1988 the matter was referred to the
Conciliation Service of the Labour Court. A conciliation
conference was held on 31st May, 1988 and on 1st June, 1988 the
matter was referred to the Labour Court for investigation and
recommendation. A Court hearing was scheduled for 24th June,
1988. However the Parliamentary Party in its submission to the
Court stated that it was not in dispute with the Union and that
the upgrading was a matter for the relevant Government Department.
The Court at the hearing decided to adjourn the hearing since - as
evidenced in the statements in the Parliamentary Party's
submission - no dispute existed between the two parties present at
the hearing. The Department of Finance, which was informed of the
position, indicated that it was only concerned with the total
allocation to the Parliamentary Party which was based on the
Party's strength in the Dail and that the administration of the
overall allocation was a matter for the Party itself and that the
upgrading of the worker concerned was a matter between the Union
and the Party. In the circumstances the Court deemed the Union to
be in dispute with the Parliamentary Party and the Court hearing
therefore resumed on 30th June, 1988.
UNION'S ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. Since the introduction of the new machinery the worker's
responsibilities have increased considerably. There has been
an increase in 'two coloured work' and the worker is required
on many occasions to have two or three machines operating
simultaneously, mainly the guillotine offset machine and
electric folder.
2. In March, 1988 the printer employed by the Fianna Fail
Party was upgraded from Clerical Officer grade to Executive
Officer grade. That printer is not required to use a colour
unit, was only requested to work on the guillotine after the
upgrading had been granted and would not be required to do two
colour work which lessens his responsibilities and skill
requirements compared to this worker. The responsibilities
and skills now required of the worker warrants his upgrading.
PARTY'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1. The Parliamentary Party supports the upgrading claim of
the printer. However, the Department of Finance pays the
salaries of the staff attached to the Oireachtas Party and the
Party has no power to upgrade positions among these workers.
This is therefore a matter for the Department of Finance.
RECOMMENDATION:
5. Having considered the submissions made by the parties, the
Court recommends that the Parliamentary Labour Party should employ
whatever means are available to it to upgrade the holder of the
post concerned to the appropriate point on the Executive Officer's
scale.
~
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
Nicholas Fitzgerald
25th July, 1988. Deputy Chairman
U.M./J.C.