In 1996, the Labour Court recommended that Woodfab Limited pay the third phase of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work from 1 April 1996. It recommended holding the union’s claims for sick pay and pension provision over until the company’s financial performance improved. The recommendation was signed on 6 December 1996. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union sought the pay increase and sick-pay and pension provisions. Woodfab said losses and trading difficulties prevented it from taking on further costs, which it said could threaten the Fermoy plant’s viability.