K Club case for Labour Court

A wage dispute between the K Club and its greenkeepers goes to the Labour Court today after talks failed at the Labour Relations Commission.

The club is set to host the major international Ryder Cup golf tournament between Europe and the US at the end of September. Greenkeepers had threatened strike action in the dispute seeking an extra €5 an hour.

Trade union Amicus has been in dispute since January with the K Club over rates of pay and seeking recognition from the club to represent workers.

Arbitration talks between the two sides at the Labour Relations Commission in April and May failed and the dispute has been referred to a full hearing of the Labour Court, starting today.

"We are confident that we have a strong case to present to the Labour Court and that this issue can be resolved in the short term," said Amicus branch secretary Colm Quinlan.

Mr Quinlan said yesterday that pay rates at the K Club were "way out of line with the industry standard. Staff are paid less than €10 an hour when the standard rate is €15." He added: "It is very important for us to get it resolved before the Ryder Cup because if it's not, it won't be resolved after it.

"It is a priority for our members who are greenkeepers and gardeners in the K Club to have an opportunity to showcase their work to the world at the Ryder Cup this year," Mr Quinlan said. "It is reasonable to expect however that we receive a fair rate of pay."

The union says it represents more than half of the 24-member operational team of greenkeepers, gardeners, mechanics and management at the club.

K Club management was yesterday unavailable for comment.

Earlier this month Minister for Sport John O'Donoghue said: "It's a bit like the postmen threatening to strike just before Christmas. I don't believe this represents a real threat."