The Labour Court recommended that Bourke's Funeral Directors and the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union meet without delay to agree pay and conditions for a worker employed as an embalmer. The recommendation was signed on 13 February 2003. The union sought improved terms, with retrospection. Bourke's declined an invitation to attend the hearing and preferred to deal directly with staff. The Court said some issues could be pursued under relevant legislation, while other reported conditions appeared below normal industry standards. It recommended that unresolved matters go through the usual labour relations procedures.