FULL RECOMMENDATION
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1990 SECTION 26(1), INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT, 1990 PARTIES : RTE CREDIT UNION LIMITED - AND - SERVICES INDUSTRIAL PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL UNION DIVISION : Chairman: Mr Hayes Employer Member: Mr Murphy Worker Member: Ms Tanham |
1. Pay rise-pay review.
BACKGROUND:
2. The RTE Credit Union is a stand alone business but is not immune to the cost-cutting programme within the State-run radio and television service, the employees of which it serves. It has a membership of approximately 4,000 and 1,000 budget scheme members and like other Credit Unions will face a cost-increasing burden as a result of the Credit Union Act 2012. The issue before the Court concerns a pay claim / review by the Union on behalf of four employees that dates back to May 2009 after the expiry of the Sustaining Progress Agreement. Management have taken a cautious stance regarding pay since the beginning of the financial crisis and are reluctant to sanction any review or pay increase.
The dispute could not be resolved at local level and 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 13th August, 2013, in accordance with Section 26(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990. A Labour Court hearing took place on the 1st October, 2013.
UNION'S ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. Staff have had no increase in pay since 2008 and continue to show loyalty and commitment to the organisation and its members. In return Management have taken their goodwill for granted.
2. The introduction of the Irish Credit Bureau rules regarding the assessment of the creditworthiness of members seeking loans will have a significant impact on staff's workload and time. Future cooperation from staff cannot be guaranteed unless there is movement in Management's position.
COMPANY'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1. Various National Agreements committed staff to full co-operation and flexibility to maintain and improve competitiveness and productivity. Concession of a pay claim would be counter-productive at this time when new legislation will force the credit union movement to overhaul its operations.
2. To date RTE Credit Union has not sought pay cuts or redundancies from its staff although this has been the norm in a significant number of Credit Unions in recent years.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Court has carefully considered the submissions of both parties to this dispute.
The Court, in full and final settlement of this dispute, recommends that Management increase the pay of the four Workers concerned by 2% with effect from the 1stJanuary 2013 and that they in turn fully co-operate with the productivity and change measures outlined in the Company’s submission to the Court.
The Court so recommends.
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
Brendan Hayes
21st October, 2013______________________
JFDeputy Chairman
NOTE
Enquiries concerning this Recommendation should be addressed to John Foley, Court Secretary.