In 1992, the Labour Court recommended that the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Craft Group accept Irish Rail’s productivity offer, with the initial payment increased to £15 from 1 August. The recommendation was signed on 23 July 1992.
The dispute concerned productivity pay for 560 engineering craftworkers. The union group sought improved rates, including a 30% increase in basic wages. Irish Rail said it lacked resources for special pay increases and that productivity payments had to come from savings in payroll costs.
The Court said those savings were the only available source of money for the proposed payments, given Irish Rail’s financial position. It recommended that the company’s offer, with all its conditions, be accepted and raised the initial payment to account for the delay since the offer was first made.