In 1997, the Labour Court recommended changes to the clerical pay scale at Carey Brothers Limited after the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union sought improved rates for 20 workers. The union said the merged scale lengthened progression to the top point from five years to ten. Carey Brothers said the scale was based on a 1983 agreement and pointed to competitive cost pressures. The Court recommended removing the first point and adding one at the top, giving a maximum of £13,700 a year. The recommendation was dated 21 January 1997.