05/02/2008

Hotels Group Launch Court Challenge On Wages

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) is to launch a court challenge today against the fixing of a statutory minimum wage for hotel workers.

The case is being taken by Co Clare hotelier Michael Vaughan and the IHF, who argue that the way wages are set by Joint Labour Committees (JLC) and the Labour Court are unconstitutional.

However, unions claim that victory for the hoteliers could reduce employment protection for up to a quarter of a million low paid workers in all sectors of the economy.

A victory would also erode the powers of the Labour Court, which has already been significantly undermined by last year's Ryanair ruling.

The latest wage increase was due on 16 November, but Mr Vaughan and the IHF obtained an injunction that prevented the Labour Court from finalising the JLC proposals.

In an action that industrial relations' observers will be watching very closely, the Commercial Court hearing is expected to last four days.

(VB)


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