FULL RECOMMENDATION
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 2001 SECTION 26(1), INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT, 1990 PARTIES : DUBLIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE - AND - IRISH MUNICIPAL, PUBLIC AND CIVIL TRADE UNION DIVISION : Chairman: Ms Jenkinson Employer Member: Mr Grier Worker Member: Mr O'Neill |
1. Increase in salaries.
BACKGROUND:
2. The Union submitted a pay claim on behalf of Assistant Principal Officers (APO's) and Principal Officers (PO's) employed by the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT). The Union is seeking to have the pay scales of APO's in the national Institutes of Technology (IOT's) applied to APO's in DIT. The Union also wants the pay relativity between PO's and APO's to be maintained.
Management states that the appropriate link for APO's and PO's in DIT is with the analogous grades in the VEC's and not the IOT's.
As agreement was not possible, the dispute was referred to the Conciliation Service of the Labour Relations Commission. Conciliation conferences were held on the 21st March,2003 and on the 4th April, 2003 but agreement was not reached. The dispute was referred to the Labour Court on the 8th April, 2003 in accordance with Section 26(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990. The Court investigated the dispute on the 19th June, 2003.
UNION'S ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. The pay rates for APO's and PO's in DIT have fallen behind those of their counterparts in the ITO's and the VEC's.
2. The established differential between the two management grades of APO and POhas to be maintained. As there is no corresponding PO scale in the other Institutes of Technology, the proposed alignment with the VEC scale would maintain that differential.
3. The same deal has to be applied to the grade of APO in Dublin Institute of Technology, as applies in all other Institutes of Technology. The effective dates of application of the new scales must also be the same.
MANAGEMENT'S ARGUMENTS
4. 1. The existing linkage for PO and APO grades is with the analogousgrades in the VEC's. The link with the VEC remains the appropriate link for the PO and APO grades.
2. The administrative structures in DIT differs significantly from IOT's in that there are no PO grades in the IOT's and therefore no comparability. These differences are also reflected in the top management structures of DIT.
3. The current economic/financial constraints restrict what can be agreed to particularly in relation to retrospection/arrears.
RECOMMENDATION:
Having considered the submissions of the parties the Court recommends that the salary scale of APO's in the Dublin Institute of Technology should be brought in line with revised salary scale of APO's at the Institutes of Technology.
At the Court hearing there was an understanding between the parties on the position of PO's which was acceptable to both sides; accordingly, the Court recommends that PO's salaries should be adjusted to bring them in line with similar grades in VEC's.
The Court understands that due to the costs involved the parties will need to discuss retrospection and phasing and therefore recommends that such discussions should commence without delay.
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
Caroline Jenkinson
7th July, 2003______________________
LW/LWDeputy Chairman
NOTE
Enquiries concerning this Recommendation should be addressed to Larry Wisely, Court Secretary.