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CD/25/229 |
RECOMMENDATION NO. LCR23235
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INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS 1946 TO 2015
SECTION 26(1), INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT, 1990
PARTIES:
RUSAL AUGHINISH ALUMINA
(REPRESENTED BY IBEC)
AND
32 Control Room Operators
(REPRESENTED BY SIPTU)
DIVISION:
| Chairman: | Mr Haugh |
| Employer Member: | Mr O'Brien |
| Worker Member: | Mr Bell |
SUBJECT:
Complaint under Section 26(1) of the Industrial Relations Act 1990.
BACKGROUND:
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 6th August 2025 in accordance with Section 26(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990.
A Labour Court hearing took place on 3rd March 2026.
RECOMMENDATION:
Background to the Dispute
The dispute concerns the implementation of the Parties’ agreement to conduct a job evaluation exercise in respect of the Control Room Operator role at the Aughinish Alumina (‘the Company’) plant.
The agreement was entered into while the Parties were in conciliation under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. The Company proceeded to commission a job evaluation process and selected an individual to complete it. The Company only laterally sought the Union’s input to the terms of reference. The Union declined to participate and requested that the dispute be referred to the Court. The Company proceeded, nevertheless, with the exercise in the period between the referral of the dispute to the Court and the within hearing.
Recommendation
The Court recommends that the exercise undertaken unilaterally by the Company be set aside. It further recommends that the Parties now engage constructively with regards to a fresh job evaluation exercise, such engagement to include agreement on the appropriate party to conduct the exercise, the terms of reference and methodology to apply and the timeframe within which it is to be completed. The Court is of the view that a timeframe of no longer than three months from the date of this Recommendation is an appropriate one.
The Court so recommends.
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Signed on behalf of the Labour Court |
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Alan Haugh |
| AR | ______________________ |
| 11/03/2026 | Deputy Chairman |
NOTE
Enquiries concerning this Recommendation should be in writing and addressed to Mr Aidan Ralph, Court Secretary.