The Gazette 1967/71

The Agricultural Institute is the only semi- State body which pays such allowances. It was argued that the philosophy of the trade union movement is that there should be equal pay for equal work and allowances in any shape or form are frowned upon. The Institute agrees with this philosophy and implements the policy of equal pay for men and women for equal work. The trade union movement claims, and the Institute again agrees, that the effective support of wives and particularly of children should be catered for through the tax structure. The Institute went on to say that it is also Government policy that allow ances such as these should not be allowed to escalate or go any further than they now are. To grant such allowances would be a backward step, and the trade union and Government policies would appear to agree with this. Furthermore, attacks have already been made on marriage differentiated scales in the civil service itself and the matter is likely to be discussed by the Com mission on the Status of Women. In time, whether sooner or later, the Institute expects the Govern ment to phase out the existing allowance in the context of some future negotiations on the adjust ments necessary in the public services pay struc ture to ensure compatibility with the E.E.C. inter pretation, endorsed by the trade union movement, of the principle of equal pay. The Government has entry to the E.E.C. very much in view and it is its wish, as expressed to the Board of the Institute, that such allowances as those for marriage and children should not escalate. In its recommendation, recently published, the Labour Court did not recommend the granting of this claim in view of the fact that marriage and children's allowances are not paid in the great bulk of employment in State-sponsored bodies and that the Agricultural Institute cases appears to be an exception to the general rule. E.A.P.

REDUNDANCY APPEALS TRIBUNAL Thirty-eight appeals were heard by the Tribunal in February 1971. Fifteen appeals were allowed and twenty-three failed. The following table shows the representation of the parties before the tribunal and the result of the appeals related to the representation of the parties — Representing Win for Appellant Respondent Appellant Respondent Solicitor 6817 Counsel Other professional - 18

Trade Union

22

10

Employers' Federation Company Official In person No appearance

—

7

3

38 23 While no particular conclusion can be drawn from these figures it is interesting to note that in the thirty-eight appeals, six appellants and eight respondents were represented by solicitors. Twenty-two appellants were represented by trade union officials. The success rate for solicitors for appellants was one out of six and for solicitors for respondents, seven out of eight. Of the twenty- two appellants represented by trade union officials, ten were successful. Counsel appeared for re spondents in two appeals both of which succeeded. Eighteen respondents appeared by other profes sional representatives and seven were successful. Of the six appeals in which company officials represented respondents, four succeeded. The decisions of the Redundancy Appeals Tribunal are filed in the Society's library. E.A.P. 231 38 15

PARTNERSHIPS AND AMALGAMATIONS Partner required for old established country practice, Midlands. Box No. P 101.