The Gazette 1976

GAZETTE

SEP T EM BER 1976

19.1 During the year one full meeting and one sub-committee session of the Law Clerks Joint Labour Committee were held in the offices of the Labour Court, Mespil Road, Dublin. 19.2 A Motion was proposed by P. J. O'Brien of the Worker's representatives: "that the current Employment Regulation Order be revised as follows to take into account the inadequacy of the present rates and the requirements of the Anti-Discrimination (Pay) Act 1974: 1. Managing Clerks: £65.00 per week. 2. Conveyancing Clerks and Cost Clerks: 1st Year of Employment £50.00 per week. 2nd „ „ „ £50.00 „ „ 3rd „ „ „ £60.00 „ „

LAW SOCIETY RE PRE S ENTAT I VES

Bruce St. J. Blake Francis X. Burke Laurence Cullen Gerard M. Doyle Joseph L. Dundon P. McEntee Enda C. Gearty Gerald J. Moloney Robert McD. Taylor

3. General Law Clerks (Male & Female):

1 st Year of Employment £28.00 per week 2nd „ „ „ £30.00 „ 3rd „ „ „ £33.00 „ 4th „ „ „ £36.00 „ 5th „ „ „ £39.00 „ 6th „ „ „ £42.00 „ 7th „ „ „ £45.00 „ 8th „ „ „ £48.00 „ „ 9th „ „ „ £52.00 „ „

After hearing arguments from both parties, the Chairman, Mrs. Yvonne Murphy agreed to defer the meeting pending the report of a sub-committee, comprising three members from both sides, on the question of revision of categories of employees listed in the E.R.O. 19.3 A second meeting was scheduled for 18th November, 1976, to consider the report of the sub- committee and also the motion proposed by Mr. O'Brien at the first meeting. The consensus of opinion at the sub-committee was that the six existing categories should be reduced to four: 1. Managing Clerks, 2. Conveyancing and Cost Clerks, 3. General Law Clerks and Bookkeepers, 4. Typists, Receptionists and Messenger Boys. 19.4 The Council expressed concern that any Solicitor should fail to pay the Statutory Minimum. However, as no specific names had been forwarded to the Law Society and the Department of Labour was not prepared to disclose names of the firms concerned the Council regretted that no useful action could be taken by them. Council was of the opinion that the individual Bar Associations, with the benefit of superior local knowledge, could help to ensure that Solicitors in their area would not pay less than the Statutory Minimum Wage. 19.5 Council warns members that failure to pay the prescribed minimum rate will leave the particular member open to prosecution. The Department of Labour intends to prosecute without further warning in all cases of non-payment of the prescribed minimum rate.

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