The Labour Court recommended talks on narrowing the pay gap between Tyco Healthcare Ireland Limited’s Tullamore and Athlone plants. Its recommendation was dated 15 February 2002. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union sought equal rates for Tullamore workers, saying Athlone rates were about 8% higher. The company cited differences in efficiency and warned that higher costs could threaten jobs. The Court recommended that negotiations address the gap while taking account of those efficiency differences.