asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state why the recent increases in wages awarded by the Labour Court to the Córas Iompair Éireann workers employed in the Córas Iompair Éireann workshops in Dublin have not yet been paid and whether he is in a position to state when these increases and arrears of pay will be paid to the workers involved.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payments to Córas Iompair Éireann Workers.
I have inquired from Córas Iompair Éireann and have been informed that it has accepted the award of the Labour Court in this matter. The board states that it has been unable to pay the increase in wages recommended due to the failure of a number of the unions concerned to indicate their acceptance of the award. Where, in respect of any grade of employee, the unions concerned have indicated their acceptance of the award, the board informs me that it proposes to pay the increases at an early date. Where there has been acceptance in respect of a section only of the workers in any grade, the board states it could not undertake to pay the increases on the basis of union affiliation.
Would the Minister impress upon Córas Iompair Éireann the importance of paying these increases as soon as possible—certainly in the case of the grades where the increases have been accepted by the unions involved? This is holiday time and this money would be of definite benefit to the working employee.
I understand that that is the intention of the board. As the Deputy may be aware, the Labour Court's recommendation was that the new rate should be retrospective.