Recent Cases

61 former Clerys workers have won a cumulative award of nearly €120,000, after the Workplace Relations Commission found a breach of consultation requirements under the Protection of Employment regulation. A Workplace Relations Commission adjudication officer (AO) has ruled in favour of the 61 claimants, the majority of whom were SIPTU members. MANDATE members were also part of the claim Welcoming the WRC decision, SIPTU sector organiser Teresa Hannick said it “could set a precedent for workers who lose their jobs as part of a collective … read more

A SIPTU member who was represented by the   Workers Rights Centre at  the Labour Court had a significant victory   case at the High Court  in the area of reasonable accommodation for employees with a disability.  The member was involved in a serious accident in which she suffered spinal injuries which left her paralysed from the waist down. She was a special needs assistant in the Nano Nagle School in Co Limerick which is a special school for children with varying degrees of disability. The Workers … read more

The Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) has ordered re-engagement by Bulmers, Clonmel, with a SIPTU member who it said had been treated in an “inexcusable” manner when he was dismissed “without a disciplinary hearing and in circumstances that indicate undue haste”. The EAT added that the claimant, who was the chief shop steward at the plant, had been “sacrificed at the altar of corporate exigency”. The worker was represented by Ger Malone of the SIPTU WRC officer in Waterford. Read the full case here: https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/Cases/2015/October/UD423_2014_UD587_2014.html.

Worker was “sacrificed at the altar of corporate exigency”said the Employment Appeals tribunal when it ordered re-engagement  for a Bulmers, Clonmel SIPTU member. Furthermore the tribunal said that  it was “inexcusable” that the claimant, who was the chief shop steward, was dismissed “without a disciplinary hearing and in circumstances that indicate undue haste”. His Workers Rights Centre advocate was Ger Malone from the Waterford office. Read the full case here: https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/Cases/2015/October/UD423_2014_UD587_2014.html.

The Labour Court has found in favour of security operative who alleged she was fired for making a bullying complaint. She received an increased award from the Court. The case was taken under section 27 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 which protects an employee from victimisation if he/she makes a Health and Safety complaint. Bullying is seen as coming under the Health and Safety legislation. The Court in its determination stated: “Having considered the totality of the evidence available to … read more