The Gazette 1976

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GAZETTE SEPTEMBER 1976
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
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 „ „
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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