With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 473 and 474 together.
The dispute at the Arklow factory of NET stems from a claim on behalf of mechanical craftsmen and (a) assimilation to higher points on salary scales and (b) change in the method of payment of overtime. The claims were rejected by the company and as no settlement could be reached at conciliation level, the case was formally heard by the Labour Court. The court's recommendation in the matter was rejected by the workers, and strike notice to expire on 22 September was served on the company. This was later extended to 29 September. An application for an all-out picket was lodged with the ICTU. Talks took place between the union and the management on 3 October and agreement was reached on the overtime issue only. The question of an all-out picket was deferred.
The strike commenced on 6 October, and I have been keeping in touch with developments since then. Efforts were made by an industrial relations officer of the Labour Court to arrange a conciliation conference immediately the possibility of lay-offs at the factory became known, but the trade union official concerned indicated that he would be unable to attend such a conference before 9 November. A conference took place on that date under the chairmanship of the industrial relations officer but it was not found possible to resolve the matters in dispute.
The procedures for settling this dispute continue to be available to the parties and the industrial relations officer of the Labour Court is maintaining contact with them.
