Vol. 457 No. 1
164 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the industrial dispute at Guinness, where employees on strike are dependent on tax rebates and where the employer insists on making the normal deductions, leaving the employees with little or no payment while being refused supplementary welfare on the basis of the gross tax rebate. [15011/95]
I am aware of the dispute at Guinness which has been in progress since Tuesday, 19 September. The dispute concerns a claim for a new pay structure for craft workers who are mebers of the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union and the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union. This dispute has been processed through all procedures including the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court. A recommendation by the Labour Court to the effect that the workers' claim for a new pay structure should be negotiated within the context of the company's new rationalisation plan was rejected by the workers. At this stage it is a matter for the parties directly concerned to decide on the best means of resolving the dispute either through direct negotiations or with the help of a third party. The position of individual employees with regard to tax rebates or supplementary welfare are matters in which I have no function and should be taken up with the relevant authorities.
