Labour Court Database __________________________________________________________________________________ File Number: CD93636 Case Number: LCR14162 Section / Act: S26(1) Parties: DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL - and - SERVICES INDUSTRIAL PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL UNION |
Claim for the regrading of Park Rangers.
Recommendation:
5. Having examined the submissions of the parties and considered
the oral evidence presented at the hearing, the Court did not find
that there has been any major change in the job which
fundamentally alters the original job description for Park Rangers
in the Council employment. Neither did the Court find that
significant difference between the work of the claimants and their
counterparts in Dublin Corporation was established. Accordingly,
the Court does not find grounds to alter the existing pay-scale.
In relation to the Union contention that the pay-scale for Park
Rangers was set too low from its inception having regard to the
fact that they work unusual hours and are unsupervised, the Court
considers that this case should initially be submitted to Dublin
Corporation whose scales are followed by the Council with the
agreement of the Unions.
Division: Mr Heffernan Mr Keogh Mr Walsh
Text of Document__________________________________________________________________
CD93636 RECOMMENDATION NO. LCR14162
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1990
SECTION 26(1)
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT, 1990
PARTIES: DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
and
SERVICES INDUSTRIAL PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL UNION
SUBJECT:
1. Claim for the regrading of Park Rangers.
BACKGROUND:
2. 1. On 14th September, 1989, the Union submitted a claim to
the Council for the regrading of Park Rangers by the
application of the Litter Warden's rate of pay to that grade.
Discussions took place at local level with the Union arguing
that the Rangers work was of equal value with that of Litter
Warden. The Council rejected this argument stating that
Litter Wardens have legal obligations which Park Rangers do
not.
2. The Union re-activated the claim on the 3rd July, 1991
and following an organisation and methods study of the Park
Rangers' job the Council again rejected the claim. The claim
was referred to the Labour Relations Commission and
conciliation conferences were held on the 30th October, 1991,
1st July, 1992, 20th July, 1992, 19th March, 1993 and 15th
September, 1993. Agreement could not be reached and the issue
was referred by the Labour Relations Commission to the Labour
Court on 9th November, 1993. The Court investigated the
matter on 12th January, 1994.
UNION'S ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. Park Rangers have been badly or wrongly graded since the
mid 1970's.
2. The job has evolved since the mid 1970's to such an
extent that they operate on their own without total
supervision and should therefore be placed on a supervisory
grade.
3. The Parks are controlled by the Rangers and they should
be graded accordingly.
4. The Park Rangers role has changed since the mid 1970's.
COUNCIL'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1. The grade of Park Attendant/Ranger has a traditional and
established relationship and parity of pay with the grade of
Park Attendant/Ranger in Dublin Corporation and the Union
claim seeks to overturn this.
2. The Labour Court has previously acknowledged and upheld
the established pay parity relationship between County Council
and similar grade workers in the Corporation.
3. The Park Attendant/Ranger rate of pay was agreed with
the union when the position was established in 1977 on the
basis of the corresponding rate in Dublin Corporation.
4. The number of rangers has increased from five in 1980 to
twenty five in 1994 in tandem with the increase in acreage so
that the volume of work associated with any particular ranger
job has not increased.
5. The council had an organisation and methods study
carried out and this reinforces the Council's position that
there is no basis for the claim.
RECOMMENDATION:
5. Having examined the submissions of the parties and considered
the oral evidence presented at the hearing, the Court did not find
that there has been any major change in the job which
fundamentally alters the original job description for Park Rangers
in the Council employment. Neither did the Court find that
significant difference between the work of the claimants and their
counterparts in Dublin Corporation was established. Accordingly,
the Court does not find grounds to alter the existing pay-scale.
In relation to the Union contention that the pay-scale for Park
Rangers was set too low from its inception having regard to the
fact that they work unusual hours and are unsupervised, the Court
considers that this case should initially be submitted to Dublin
Corporation whose scales are followed by the Council with the
agreement of the Unions.
~
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
Kevin Heffernan
25th January, 1994 ----------------
P O'C/U.S. Chairman
NOTE:
Enquiries concerning this Recommendation should be addressed to
Mr Paul O'Connor, Court Secretary.