Guide dogs workers’ appeal bid may not proceed

An employment appeals application by seven staff at Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind may not go ahead after an Employment Appeals Tribunal heard yesterday that the application may not have been served on management in time.

A hearing in Cork heard an application from Damien Cahill of IBEC, representing Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, that the application by the workers had not been made within the six-week window, following an earlier recommendation of the Rights Commissioner, who had upheld pay cuts imposed within Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.

The Rights Commissioner had said there had been a “justified reduction in wages” and that the action had been reasonable and did not require compensation.

However, seven workers applied to the EAT to challenge that decision and the hearing was due to get underway yesterday.

However, Mr Cahill, in making his preliminary application, said the workers had not complied with the legal requirements for making their application, specifically with regard to putting IGDB on notice within six weeks of the appeal decision.

Mr Cahill said if the EAT panel was to have heard the case yesterday, he would then have to appeal the matter to the circuit court, claiming, “the law is the law is the law”.

Eddie Mullins of Siptu, acting for the workers, said due notice had been served on IGDB but he would need to find the relevant documents.

The EAT panel said they would give both sides four weeks to finalise documentation and the tribunal would reconvene on March 7 to decide whether or not the full application will be heard.