LIFTS DISPUTE RETURN TO WORK FORMULA AGREED

Mr. Tom Kitt T.D., Minister for Labour Affairs welcomed the agreement today (Tuesday, 22nd September 1998) which enables a resumption of work in the lift industry and signals the end of the current industrial action which had entered its thirteenth week.

"I was particularly concerned at this dispute because of its impact on residents of high rise complexes, such as Ballymun", the Minister said.

The agreement was facilitated by the appointment of Mr. Des Casey, former Rights Commissioner, as an agreed independent mediator. The appointment had followed from an initiative by the Minister begun on the 10th September 1998.

The Minister thanked Mr. Casey for his work and said that the agreement should facilitate the development of a partnership approach to the challenges facing the lift industry.

In particular, the Minister welcomed the agreement to establish a management/union forum as recommended by the Labour Court earlier this year.

Noting that the parties had agreed to binding arbitration on one of the more difficult aspects of the dispute the Minister added, "I wish the parties well in their efforts to resolve some outstanding difficulties." The Minister is concerned, in relation to recent disputes, that there has been difficulty in reaching speedy resolution having been through the full industrial relations machinery. The Minister will be having discussions with the appropriate parties as to how these issues can be addressed.

In conclusion the Minister paid tribute to all those involved, including his officials, for bringing this dispute to a satisfactory conclusion.