Labour Court Database __________________________________________________________________________________ File Number: CD94139 Case Number: LCR14439 Section / Act: S26(1) Parties: FAS - and - SERVICES INDUSTRIAL PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL UNION |
Staffing and grading of workers employed in the FAS Employment Services Office, Tralee.
Recommendation:
Having considered the submissions from the parties the Court has
come to the conclusion that FAS office in Castle Street in Tralee
is correctly ranked as part of the Tralee Training Centre situated
at Monavalley Industrial Estate. There are two locations forming
one unit and the allocation of the various grades to the different
posts in the Unit is a matter for Management/Union.
The Union have a strongly held view that the posts in Castle
Street are ranked below the appropriate level. The Court
accordingly recommends that both parties examine the allocation of
staff to the various posts in the Unit as a whole with a view to
meeting the Union's concerns.
Division: Ms Owens Mr Keogh Mr Walsh
Text of Document__________________________________________________________________
CD94139 RECOMMENDATION NO. LCR14439
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1990
SECTION 26(1), INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT, 1990
PARTIES:
FAS
AND
SERVICES INDUSTRIAL PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL UNION
SUBJECT:
1. Staffing and grading of workers employed in the FAS
Employment Services Office, Tralee.
BACKGROUND:
2. The dispute before the Court concerns the staffing and
grading of workers employed in the FAS Employment Services
Office, Castle Street, Tralee.
The FAS employment service function in Tralee is at two
locations within one mile of each other and staffed as
follows:-
Castle Street
Two Employment Services Officers : Grade 10.
One Clerk Typist : Grade 14.
Industrial Estate, Monavalley
Three Senior Employment Services Officers : Grade 8.
Two Executive Assistants : Grade 11.
Two Clerk Typists : Grade 14.
In August, 1993 discussions took place between the parties
regarding the Union's claim for a staffing grade structure in
Castle Street comprising:-
One officer : Grade 8.
One officer : Grade 10.
One officer : Grade 11.
The Company rejected the Union's claim.
The matter was referred to the Labour Relations Commission.
A conciliation conference was held on 23rd February, 1994,
but no agreement was reached. The dispute was referred to
the Labour Court on 8th March, 1994, under Section 26(1) of
the Industrial Relations Act, 1990. A Labour Court hearing
took place on 21st April, 1994.
UNION'S ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. The grading structures at Castle Street are not
appropriate for the type of office. It is FAS stated
policy to have a "one stop shop" in every high street
throughout the country. The normal minimum staffing at
such offices is one grade 8 and one grade 11.
2. The office in Castle Street is a stand-alone office.
The full range of services of the employment services
office are carried out. It is similar to the service
provided at other employment service offices throughout
the country and should be staffed accordingly.
COMPANY'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1. The employment services function in Tralee is one
operation, not two separate operations. Castle Street
is not a stand-alone office, but is part of the overall
employment service function in Tralee.
2. It is managements' responsibility to deploy the
resources available to it, in accordance with the
organisations needs and in the interests of providing
the best possible service to its customers.
3. Management is satisfied that the present arrangement in
Tralee is satisfactory and that there is no need to have
a grade 8 or grade 11 exclusively assigned to Castle
Street. There is no justification in the Union's claim.
4. Management does not have the facility to create
additional grades and the only way the claim could be
met, if conceded, would be by the re-assignment of some
of the existing staff in Tralee.
RECOMMENDATION:
Having considered the submissions from the parties the Court has
come to the conclusion that FAS office in Castle Street in Tralee
is correctly ranked as part of the Tralee Training Centre situated
at Monavalley Industrial Estate. There are two locations forming
one unit and the allocation of the various grades to the different
posts in the Unit is a matter for Management/Union.
The Union have a strongly held view that the posts in Castle
Street are ranked below the appropriate level. The Court
accordingly recommends that both parties examine the allocation of
staff to the various posts in the Unit as a whole with a view to
meeting the Union's concerns.
~
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
12th May, 1994 Evelyn Owens
F.B./M.M. _______________
Deputy Chairman
Note
Enquiries concerning this Recommendation should be addressed to
Mr. Fran Brennan, Court Secretary.