In 1996, the Labour Court recommended that Irish Life Assurance PLC employees cooperate with new training programmes after a dispute over attendance at sales process courses. The recommendation was signed on 26 June 1996. The union, Manufacturing, Science, Finance, argued the courses were linked to the company's restructuring plan and should wait until negotiations were complete. The company said the training was separate from the plan and part of management's responsibility to train staff. The Court noted assurances that the training did not implement the plan and recommended that employees cooperate with the new trainers.