FULL RECOMMENDATION
SECTION 26(1), INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT, 1990 PARTIES : G4S SECURE SOLUTIONS (REPRESENTED BY IBEC) - AND - SERVICES INDUSTRIAL PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL UNION DIVISION : Chairman: Mr Hayes Employer Member: Ms Doyle Worker Member: Mr McCarthy |
1. Enhanced redundancy terms.
BACKGROUND:
2. This dispute relates to a claim by the Union for enhanced redundancy terms.
- This dispute could not be resolved at local level and was the subject of a Conciliation Conference under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. As agreement was not reached, the dispute was referred to the Labour Court on the 23 June 2017 in accordance with Section 26(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990.
- A Labour Court hearing took place on the 4 August 2017.
UNIONS ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. On the 6 April 2017, the Workers were informed that the Monitoring Division in Citywest was closing and were transferring to Belfast.
2. In December 2014, the Workers agreed to take a pay reduction of between 15% and 20%, which at that time was specifically for the purpose of securing the future of the Citwest site.
3. In 2009, the Company in similar circumstances paid severance pay of 4 weeks’ pay per year of service in addition to statutory entitlement. The Union is seeking these terms for these Workers.
EMPLOYER'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1. In January 2017 the Company made a commercial decision to move the Monitoring Division to Belfast.
2. All of the Union members who were made redundant received a severance payment of 2 weeks’ pay per year of service in addition to statutory entitlement.
3. The Company is not in a position to increase these terms.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Court has given careful consideration to the comprehensive and measured submissions of both sides in this dispute.
Having taken all factors into consideration the Court recommends that the Company increase severance terms offered to the staff to 3 weeks’ pay per year of service in addition to statutory redundancy entitlements. The Court further recommends that no cap should apply to the improved terms.
The Court so recommends.
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
Brendan Hayes
CR______________________
10th August, 2017Deputy Chairman
NOTE
Enquiries concerning this Recommendation should be addressed to Ciaran Roche, Court Secretary.