FULL RECOMMENDATION
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1990 SECTION 26(1), INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT, 1990 PARTIES : AN POST - AND - PSEU DIVISION : Chairman: Mr Duffy Employer Member: Ms Doyle Worker Member: Mr McCarthy |
1. Attendance Recording.
BACKGROUND:
2. The case before the Court concerns a dispute between the Employer and the Union in relation to the Employer's proposed introduction of an online attendance recording system. The updated online system seeks to replace the flexi-time system that is currently in place in the GPO, Dublin. The Employer contends that the current flexi-time swipe system is outdated and requires modernisation as it is not linked to current IT systems in use in the GPO. The Employer further contends that it requires standardisation of the attendance recording system across all grades of employees and the new system has already been implemented for other employees based in the GPO. The Union rejects the Employer's position and has presented a claim for a 2% pay increase in return for agreement on the implementation of the new attendance management system.
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 23rd May, 2014, in accordance with Section 26(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990. A Labour Court hearing took place on the 16th July, 2014.
UNION'S ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. The Union contends that the implementation of the new attendance recording system is viewed as major change that will impact a significant number of its members.
2. The Union is seeking a 2% pay increase in recognition of the estimated 30-45 additional minutes per week that it will potentially take employees to clock in and out under the new system.
EMPLOYER'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1. The Employer asserts that there is a business requirement to introduce a standardised and modernised attendance recording system for all of its employees.
2. The Employer maintains that the implementation of the new system will offer an enhanced service to both the Company and employees.
3. The Employer is currently in a loss-making situation and is not in a position to concede the Union's claim for a 2% pay increase.
RECOMMENDATION:
The first point for consideration in this case is whether the changes in issue constitute normal ongoing change. If the changes can be so characterised the Union is committed to cooperating with the system under its existing agreement with the Company.
In previous recommendations this Court has held the concept of normal ongoing change should be understood as involving the use of new systems or methods in providing the same service or undertaking what is essentially the same task. In this instance various systems of time recording are applied by the Company, including recording by management. What is now in issue involves a new and uniform system of time recording. In that sense it is clearly a new system of undertaking the same task.
In these circumstances the Court is satisfied that the disputed proposal constitutes normal ongoing change. In accordance with the current agreement the Union should accept and cooperate with the new system.
The Court recommends that the new system be now introduced and that its operation be reviewed after it has been in operation for a period of six months. At that point any operational issues identified in the review should be addressed between the parties.
In these circumstances the Court cannot recommend concession of the Unions claim for a 2% pay increase in consideration of the introduction of the new system.
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
Kevin Duffy
13th August 2014______________________
SCChairman
NOTE
Enquiries concerning this Recommendation should be addressed to John Foley, Court Secretary.