Labour Court Database __________________________________________________________________________________ File Number: CD90202 Case Number: LCR12862 Section / Act: S67 Parties: IRISH ESTATES MANAGEMENT LIMITED - and - SERVICES INDUSTRIAL PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL UNION |
Claim by the Union concerning workers opposition to redundancies arising from Company proposals to contract out security work.
Recommendation:
5. Having regard to the size and organisation of the Company,
the Court accepts that the management, training and expertise of
the security service can best be achieved by contracting the work
to a specialist security firm. While this change would have
direct impact on the existing staff, it would not affect overall
employment as the same number would have to be employed by the
security firm. Moreover, there is also the strong possibility
that as a result of Company representation the security firm in
question will employ the present staff.
The Court therefore recommends that the Union accept the
management proposals to contract out the security service and that
the Company enhances its redundancy payments as follows:-
For present staff who succeed in
obtaining employment with the
security firm : 4 weeks per year of service
plus statutory.
For present staff failing to get
employment with the security firm : 5 weeks per year of service
plus statutory.
Division: CHAIRMAN Mr Collins Mr O'Murchu
Text of Document__________________________________________________________________
CD90202 RECOMMENDATION NO. LCR12862
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1976
SECTION 67
PARTIES: IRISH ESTATES MANAGEMENT LIMITED
(REPRESENTED BY THE FEDERATION OF IRISH EMPLOYERS)
AND
SERVICES INDUSTRIAL PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL UNION
SUBJECT:
1. Claim by the Union concerning workers opposition to
redundancies arising from Company proposals to contract out
security work.
BACKGROUND:
2. The Company is part of the Irish Life Group and is involved in
managing properties owned by that Group. The workers concerned
with the dispute are employed as security men at the Irish Life
Centre in Abbey Street. A dispute arose when the Company advised
the workers and Union on 9th February, 1990, of their intention to
have security work contracted out to a private company. The
Company also advised that it was prepared to spend the next 30
days in consultation so as to negotiate a redundancy compensation
package. The Union objected to the proposed redundancies. Local
discussion failed to resolve the dispute and the issue was the
subject of a Labour Court conciliation conference on 18th April,
1990. The Union was not interested in discussing severance terms
at the conciliation conference as its primary objective was to
maintain employment for the workers concerned. However, it was
prepared to discuss cost saving measures. The Company decision
was not based on cost and accordingly it was not prepared to
consider any alternative measure to severance. No agreement was
reached and both parties requested a full Court hearing on 20th
April, 1990. The Court investigated the dispute on 9th May, 1990.