FULL RECOMMENDATION
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 2001 SECTION 26(1), INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT, 1990 PARTIES : BANK OF IRELAND - AND - SERVICES INDUSTRIAL PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL UNION DIVISION : Chairman: Mr Duffy Employer Member: Mr Pierce Worker Member: Mr. Somers |
1. Euro recognition payment in respect of Porters and Security Guards in Head Office, Security Guards in Cabinteely and all Cleaning Staff.
BACKGROUND:
2. The dispute before the Court concerns a claim by the Union on behalf of Service Grades of staff employed by the Bank for the Euro recognition payment. The staff concerned are Security Guards in Cabinteely and Head Office, Porters in Head Office and all Branch cleaning staff. The Bank rejects the claim stating that the staff concerned were not impacted as a result of the Euro changeover. The dispute was the subject of a conciliation conference under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission. As agreement was not reached, the dispute was referred to the Labour Court on the 25th of February, 2002, in accordance with Section 26(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990. A Labour Court hearing took place on the 2nd of May, 2002, the earliest date suitable to the parties.
UNION'S ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. All staff were impacted by the Euro changeover and this was recognised and accepted by all other Banks.
2. The staff concerned should receive payment for the Euro changeover. This payment was earned and warranted, not only in recognition for team effort and commitment which ensured the smooth transition to Euro, but also in the interest of fairness and equity.
BANK'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1. To qualify for payment, Service Staff would have to encounter an increase in Euro related workload with weekday overtime and weekend attendance, and an annual leave embargo in the period the 28th of December, 2001, until the 15th of February, 2002.
2. The claim is not justified as the staff concerned were not impacted by the Euro changeover.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Court has very considerable doubt as to the extent to which the Euro change-over impacted on the staff associated with this claim. However, on the basis of final closure of this matter, the Court recommends that in the special circumstances of this group they should receive a payment of €159 plus one day's annual leave on a gratuitous basis.
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
Kevin Duffy
5th June, 2002______________________
GB/MB.Deputy Chairman
NOTE
Enquiries concerning this Recommendation should be addressed to Gerardine Buckley, Court Secretary.