In 1987, the Labour Court recommended that Irish Rail and the National Association of Transport Employees resume negotiations over weekend arrangements for 32 machine operators. The recommendation was signed on 27 August. The union sought Saturday pay and day and night expenses when operators worked away from their headquarters over a weekend. Irish Rail said the claim was excessive and outside the Rail Operative Agreement. The Court recommended that both sides use the conciliation proposal as a basis for further talks, taking account of the agreement and the operators' working arrangements.