Upsurge in third party industrial relations referrals

REFERRALS to third party industrial relations bodies went up by 30% between 2007 and 2008, according to the annual report of the Labour Court released yesterday.

The Labour Court, Labour Relations Commission, Rights Commissioner Service and Employment Appeals Tribunal between them heard 18,853 cases. The court itself examined 1,179 cases in 2008, 28% more than the 924 heard in 2007.

The Labour Court annual report said the main factor in the upsurge in cases referred to its inspectors was the increase in complaints of alleged breaches of registered employment agreements – standards in pay and conditions agreed by employers and unions and ratified through the third party process.