Labour Court Database __________________________________________________________________________________ File Number: CD92403 Case Number: LCR13768 Section / Act: S26(1) Parties: DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE - and - TECHNICAL ENGINEERING AND ELECTRICAL UNION |
Claim by the Union for the appointment of two electrical chargehands.
Recommendation:
5. Having considered the submissions of the parties and the oral
evidence presented at the hearing, the Court considers that the
work-load of the electrical foreman and the geographical area of
his responsibility leaves something of a supervisory vacuum in the
electrical area. Accordingly the Court recommends the appointment
of one working chargehand electrician in the Number 2 Maintenance
Company. The Department should determine the location of the
appointment.
In making this Recommendation, the Court does not consider that it
is in anyway in conflict with the view which it expressed in
Recommendation 8175, that a separate electrical structure was not
justified.
Division: Mr Heffernan Mr Brennan Mr Rorke
Text of Document__________________________________________________________________
CD92403 RECOMMENDATION NO. LCR13768
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1990
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT, 1990
SECTION 26(1)
PARTIES: DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE
and
TECHNICAL ENGINEERING AND ELECTRICAL UNION
SUBJECT:
1. Claim by the Union for the appointment of two electrical
chargehands.
BACKGROUND:
2. At present there are 16 civilian electricians employed with
Number 2 Maintenance Company in the Eastern Command. The Union is
seeking the creation of two chargehand electrician posts. The
Department has rejected the claim. The issue was referred to the
Labour Relations Commission on the 22nd January, 1992. A
conciliation conference was held on the 7th May, 1992 but no
agreement was reached. The dispute was referred to the Labour
Court by the Labour Relations Commission on the 6th July, 1992. A
Court investigation was held on the 11th September, 1992.
UNION'S ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. No. 2 Maintenance Company is responsible for all Dublin
Barracks and also those in Cavan, Monaghan, Dundalk. This
vast area is looked after by 16 electricians and, until
recently, one electrical chargehand. Following Union
representation this worker was promoted to electrical foreman.
This promotion arose because of the development, in terms of
workload, of the chargehand's position justifying the
promotion. Presently there is a vacuum being filled by
experienced electricians. There is an urgent need for the
appointment of two electrical chargehands who would have
responsibility for ensuring the maintenance of uniform
standards of work and be available for consultation on
technical matters. They would provide the technical
assistance to the electrical foreman, significantly lacking at
present, as the electrical foreman's time is taken up with
looking after contractors, making drawings, organising
materials etc.
2. There are precedents for the concession of this claim.
The Union successfully negotiated the promotion of an
electrical foreman to the position of Clerk of Works
(electrical) in No. 1 Maintenance Company and also the
appointment of an electrical foreman and electrical
chargehand. In comparison to other maintenance companies
Number 2 Company suffers an imbalance in relation to
supervisory positions. (Details supplied to the Court).
3. The workload in the barracks maintained by Number 2
Company has developed and increased considerably in recent
years. To maximise efficiency, the Department is increasingly
using army electricians on installations and alterations.
They are supervised by civilian electricians thereby enabling
the Department to reduce the use of outside contractors. The
workers concerned are helping to reduce departmental costs and
their contribution should be acknowledged by the appointment
of two electrical chargehands.
DEPARTMENT'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1 The 16 civilian electricians are employed at eight
different locations (details supplied to the Court). Of the
16, three have been appointed to supervisory roles - 1
electrical foreman, 2 chargehands. The electrical foreman has
a wide range of functions including assisting the electrical
engineer, preparing of estimates and lists, planning,
estimating, supervising works, assisting the Barrack Foreman
of Works and advising him on electrical problems. He travels
to different locations and his responsibilities with regard to
electricians in these areas relate solely to electrical
problems. He has not sole responsibility in this area as
Barrack Foreman of Works supervises day to day electrical work
with advice from an electrician, if necessary.
2. The supervision of all maintenance work, including
electrical work, in a military barracks is the responsibility
of Barrack Foremen of Works who are chosen for their ability
to manage and control workers. All Barrack Foremen of Works
are recruited from tradesman grades and electricians are
eligible to apply for these posts. It is essential for good
administration that one person be seen to be in charge i.e.
the Barrack Foreman of Works.
3. On a previous occasion the Court did not recommend in
favour of the Union's claim for a supervisory structure for
electricians and accepted the Department's arguments in favour
of multi-trade supervision. (LCR8175 refers).
RECOMMENDATION:
5. Having considered the submissions of the parties and the oral
evidence presented at the hearing, the Court considers that the
work-load of the electrical foreman and the geographical area of
his responsibility leaves something of a supervisory vacuum in the
electrical area. Accordingly the Court recommends the appointment
of one working chargehand electrician in the Number 2 Maintenance
Company. The Department should determine the location of the
appointment.
In making this Recommendation, the Court does not consider that it
is in anyway in conflict with the view which it expressed in
Recommendation 8175, that a separate electrical structure was not
justified.
~
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
Kevin Heffernan
24th September, 1992 ------------
T. O'D/U.S. Chairman
NOTE:
Enquiries concerning this Recommendation should be addressed to
Mr Tom O'Dea, Court Secretary.