Labour Court Database __________________________________________________________________________________ File Number: CD9139 Case Number: LCR13206 Section / Act: S67 Parties: IRISH RAIL - and - SERVICES INDUSTRIAL PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL UNION |
Dispute concerning the appropriate allowances payable to 3 signalmen at Cork Central Cabin when Central Track Control (C.T.C.) is put into operation.
Recommendation:
5. The Court recommends that the C.T.C. be worked by the
signalmen at Cork and that they be paid the appropriate allowance
(#3.89) as applicable to fringe signalboxes.
The Court finds no grounds for the payment of the special
allowance of #4.26 claimed and accordingly rejects the Union's
claim.
Division: MrMcGrath Mr Keogh Mr Devine
Text of Document__________________________________________________________________
CD9139 RECOMMENDATION NO. LCR13206
THE LABOUR COURT
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1990
SECTION 67, INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT, 1946
PARTIES: IRISH RAIL
AND
SERVICES INDUSTRIAL PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL UNION
SUBJECT:
1. Dispute concerning the appropriate allowances payable to 3
signalmen at Cork Central Cabin when Central Track Control
(C.T.C.) is put into operation.
BACKGROUND:
2. In 1976 the Company embarked on a new signalling system for
its main line routes. The system was designed to operate on a
central track-control basis and became known at C.T.C. It was
introduced on a phased basis. Dublin to Ballybrophy was the first
section and and it was then extended section by section to
Thurles, Limerick Junction, Charleville and Mallow. It is now in
place at Cork Central Cabin. As it progressed the signal cabins
within each section were dispensed with and the signal cabins at
the various stations became known and worked as fringe signalboxes
until such time as the system was extended into the next section.
Signalmen working in all of the fringe boxes get an allowance of
#3.89. A special allowance of #4.26 is also paid to the signalmen
at Limerick Junction North Signalbox. The Company has put C.T.C.
in place at Cork Central Cabin and proposed to put it into
operation on 16th December, 1990. The Union rejected this
proposal. The Union claims that the 3 signalmen at Cork Central
Cabin should receive the same allowances for the operation of
C.T.C. as the signalmen at Limerick Junction North Cabin i.e. the
fringe allowance of #3.89 plus the special allowance of #4.26.
The Company claims that the special allownce of #4.26 paid at
Limerick Junction North Cabin is not related to C.T.C. and that
the fringe box allowance of #3.89 is the only appropriate
allowance payable to the signalmen at Cork Central Cabin. No
agreement was reached at local level discussions and the matter
was referred on 17th December, 1990 to the Conciliation Service of
the Labour Court. A conciliation conference was held on 20th
December, 1990. The dispute was not resolved and both parties
requested a full hearing of the Labour Court. The Court
investigated the dispute on the 5th February, 1991.
UNION'S ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. When the Company put C.T.C. in place at Cork Central
Cabin it introduced a new operating panel. The Company paid
a special allowance to the signalmen at Limerick Junction
North Cabin for the operation of a similar panel when it was
introduced there. The same special allowance together with
the fringe box allowance should be paid to the 3 signalmen
concerned.
2. The signalmen concerned have co-operated with the
introduction of C.T.C. in the expectation that they would
receive the same allowances as their fellow workers at
Limerick Junction North, for operating the same equipment.
They should now be justly rewarded by the Company.
COMPANY'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1. Limerick Junction North is a category 2 signalbox with a
basic rate of pay for signalmen of #165.02 per week. In 1985
a claim for upgrading of the signalbox was received by the
Company. The Company rejected the claim but granted a
special allowance to the signalmen . This was in recognition
of the complexity of the signalling system at Limerick
Junction North which involves the operation of four different
systems. The signalbox is unique in this respect. It also
contains an emergency control panel which is operated by the
signalmen. The signalmen at Limerick Junction South do not
operate under similar conditions and therefore do not receive
the same special allowance.
2. The special allowance paid at Limerick Junction North is
related to the special local working conditions and is not
related to the operation of C.T.C. Cork Central Cabin is a
category 1 signalbox with a basic rate of pay of #177.27 per
week. When C.T.C. comes into operation at Cork Central the
signalmen will qualify for the fringe box allowance of #3.89.
This will give the Cork Central Cabin a gross rate of #181.16
which is greater than the gross rate of #173.17 (inclusive of
special and fringe box allowances) at Limerick Junction
North.
RECOMMENDATION:
5. The Court recommends that the C.T.C. be worked by the
signalmen at Cork and that they be paid the appropriate allowance
(#3.89) as applicable to fringe signalboxes.
The Court finds no grounds for the payment of the special
allowance of #4.26 claimed and accordingly rejects the Union's
claim.
~
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
12th March, 1991 Tom McGrath
A.S./M.O'C. _______________
Deputy Chairman