Labour Court Database __________________________________________________________________________________ File Number: CD8878 Case Number: LCR11739 Section / Act: S67 Parties: THE CIVIL SERVICE DINING CLUB - and - IRISH TRANSPORT AND GENERAL WORKERS' UNION |
Claim on behalf of approximately 21 workers for an increase in pay in respect of the 26th wage round.
Recommendation:
7. The Court having considered the submissions from both parties
and noting the serious position of the Club recommends that the
Union accept the offer which emanated at the Conciliation
Conference on 11th January, 1988, viz:-
- 14 month agreement.
- 6 month pay pause.
- 3% from 1/10/1987 and a further 1% from 1/2/1988
together with special increases as follows from
1/12/1987.
- #6 for Senior Porter.
- #5 for Junior Porter.
- #5 for Senior Commis - Waitresses.
Division: Ms Owens Mr Shiel Mr Devine
Text of Document__________________________________________________________________
CD8878 RECOMMENDATION NO. LCR11739
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1976
SECTION 67
PARTIES: THE CIVIL SERVICE DINING CLUB
AND
IRISH TRANSPORT AND GENERAL WORKERS' UNION
SUBJECT:
1. Claim on behalf of approximately 21 workers for an increase in
pay in respect of the 26th wage round.
BACKGROUND:
2. The Club was founded in 1950 and provides meals for serving
and retired civil servants and caters for social functions. The
25th wage round for the workers expired on 31st March, 1987 and on
2nd June, 1987 the Union served a claim on the Club in respect of
the 26th wage round as follows:-
- an 8% increase in basic rates for twelve months from 1st
April, 1987 to 31st March, 1988.
- introduction of a sick pay scheme.
- kitchen porters rate of pay to be increased to the rate of
general assistants on the highest point of the scale.
- commis waitress rate of pay to be substantially increased
to bring the rate into line with the norm in the industry.
3. This was rejected by the Club. Local level meetings were held
during November, 1987 at which agreement on the 26th wage round
could not be reached and on 27th November, 1987 the matter was
referred to the conciliation service of the Labour Court. A
conciliation conference was held on 11th January, 1988 following
from which the following proposals were put forward:-
- 14 month agreement including a 6 months pay pause.
- 3% increase from 1st October, 1987.
- 1% increase from 1st February, 1988.
- special increases with effect from 1st December, 1987: #6
for the senior porter; #5 for the junior porter; and #5
for the senior commis-waitress.
4. This was not acceptable and on 28th January, 1988 the matter
was referred to the Labour Court for investigation and
recommendation. A Labour Court hearing was held on 23rd February,
1988.
UNION'S ARGUMENTS:
5. 1. Settlements in the 25th and 26th wage rounds for the
catering industry have been for a twelve month period. If the
workers concerned here were given an agreement longer than
twelve months or one which incorporated a pay pause of more
than two months they would in effect be losing out on one wage
round.
2. The rates of pay for general assistants and kitchen
porters are below those applicable under the Catering Joint
Labour Committee which is the legal minimum rate for all the
country with the exception of Dublin City and the Borough of
Dun Laoghaire. Arising from LCR No. 11159 the hourly rates of
pay for a general assistant were applied in a Dublin Company.
3. The issue of special increases to the commis waitress and
kitchen porters was conceded in principle in the 25th round.
The Court should recommend an 8% increase for twelve months on
the rates of pay for chefs, general assistants and waitresses
and a special increase in the rates of pay for the 2 kitchen
porters to equalise their rates of pay to that of general
assistant on the basis that they do work of equal value or
similar work.
CLUB'S ARGUMENTS:
6. 1. Trading for the last financial year (to 31st October,
1987) has resulted in a loss of over #6,000 and attendances at
meals have reached an all time low (details supplied to the
Court). Any increases in costs must be met by increasing the
prices of meals which further depletes attendances. Function
business used to off-set day to day trading losses but this
too has dropped. In 1980/1981 function business accounted for
19.4% of sales compared to less than 5% in 1986/1987.
2. The number of workers has not decreased in line with
business and has resulted in a higher proportion of the value
of sales being required to meet the cost of wages. The ratio
of staff to customer is now 1:16 whereas seven years ago it
was 1:28. Full-time workers in the Club enjoy security of
employment and good conditions of employment (details supplied
to the Court).
3. The patrons of the club are serving and retired civil
servants whose 26th wage round is for 18 months with a 6
months pay pause. Meal prices were increased in November,
1987 and February, 1988 any agreement which does not
incorporate a six month pay pause would create great
difficulties for the Club. In the circumstances management is
of the view that the offer made to the Union at local level is
the appropriate one: 18 month agreement from 1st April, 1987
with a six months pay pause and 2.50% from 1st October, 1987 for
12 months subject to a minimum of #3 for full-time workers
with pro-rata increases for part-time workers.