Fall in disputes referred to Labour Court
The number of industrial disputes referred to the Labour Court last year dropped by 2%, it was disclosed today.
And further highlighting the country’s stable business climate, fewer days were lost due to walkouts and strikes than in any other year since statistics were first compiled in the 1920s.
Of the 1,364 cases dealt with by the court, nearly half stemmed from complaints by trade unions alleging breaches of workplace agreements by employers.
In 2000 they only accounted for 1% of cases and the huge surge is put down to closer monitoring by workers and their representatives.
Billy Kelleher, Minister for Labour Affairs, praised officials for their role in resolving disputes.
“I look forward to the continuation of the valuable work of the Court which has contributed greatly to our current stable industrial climate,” he said.
Chairman of the Labour Court Kevin Duffy said these disputes presented a particular challenge for officials and new procedures had been put in place to deal with them more efficiently.
It should also mean fewer formal hearings.
The bulk of the court’s work stems from industrial relations laws and mainly involves disputes between employers and trade unions over workplace issues but about 90% of them are resolved on the basis of the court’s recommendations.
Full details from the Labour Court’s annual report for 2006 will be released later today.
