THE Royal National Life Boat Institution (RNLI) has reached an agreement with four former employees, who were dismissed last year after they refused to accept new conditions of employment.
The four men attended an Employment Appeals Tribunal in Cork yesterday but evidence to support their claim of unfair dismissal was not taken. Both sides issued a brief statement later that an amicable and final settlement had been agreed. The terms of the cash payment to the men were not divulged.
The appellants are: fleet mechanics, Mr Mark Gannon, of Courtmacsherry, Co Cork; Mr Jerry Long, of Ballincollig, Cob Cork; Mr Tony Kehoe, of Rosslare Harbour; and Mr Brendan Vaughan, a fleet electrician, of Liscannor, Co Clare.
They were dismissed last February after the RNLI had instructed them to move to within a 20 mile radius of Swords, Co Dublin, where they were to continue their maintenance work, and accept new conditions of employment.
Earlier, the Labour Court, in a review of the dispute, had suggested that the men should work in Swords as required, but continue to live at home. This was accepted by the men but they rejected what one of them described as penal work conditions, including the stipulation that they should work a five day week with seven day availability and also be available for weekend call up when required.
When the Employment Appeals Tribunal convened yesterday, both sides in dispute entered into separate negotiations outside the courtroom, and some hours later announced that an agreement had been reached. Afterwards, Mr Gannon said that while he was happy with the settlement, he was unhappy, as were his colleagues, at having lost their jobs.
He added: "I want to thank the media for their support during what has been a difficult time for us. While the agreement is acceptable to us, we feel that the RNLI is losing years of experience which we have built up along the coast. I think that experience will be sadly missed."