The Gazette 1978

OCTOBER 1978

GAZETTE

18.5 It is now over three years since I first became involved with the Society's current efforts to have the level of costs provided for in the statutory scales reviewed. During that time the Society acknowledging its obligations to the national policy, has co- operated fully with the National Prices Commission and the various Rules Committees, in its efforts to have the existing very inadequate level of costs adjusted. It is unfortunate, therefore, that after three years of work one can only report "no progress". Whatever the outcome of the existing negotiations, it seems to me that for the future the Society should make every effort to ensure that a less cumbersome review machinery is made available. 18.6 To conclude, I would like to thank Mr. Barry, Coopers and Lybrand, and, in particular, the President, for their help and encouragement over a frustrating year. 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 Workers' Representatives: "That wage rates, as contained in the existing Employment Regulation Order, be increased by 20%." After some discussion Mr. O'Brien reworded his motion as follows: "That wage rates as contained in the existing Employment Regulation Order be increased by the terms of the 1977 and 1978 National Agreements." The increases would apply at all points of the scale and 1 April 1979 would be the due date for the application of the second phase (2%) of the 1978 National Agreement. The proposal was seconded and unanimously agreed. The minimum rates specified by E.R.O. (L.C. N. 42) are: (1) Managing Clerks Date of Order 1/4/79 Per week £59.09 £60.27 (2) Conveyancing Clerks and Cost Clerks 1st year of employment, per week £51.39 £52.41 2nd year of employment, per week £53.67 £54.74 3rd year of employment, per week £55.82 £56.94 (3) General Law Clerks (17 years of age and over) 1st year of employment, per week £35.12 £35.82 2nd year of employment, per week £36.05 £36.77 3rd year of employment, per week £36.66 £37.38 4th year of employment, per week £38.06 £38.82 5th year of employment, per week £40.72 £41.53 6th year of employment, per week £43.40 £44.27 7th year of employment, per week £46.04 £46.96 8th year of employment, per week £49.16 £50.15 9th year of employment, per week £51.66 £52.69 The minimum rates specified by E.R.O. (L.C. N. 42) are: (4) Shorthand Typists/Typists 1st year of employment, per week £32.38 £33.03 2nd year of employment, per week £33.60 £34.27 3rd year of employment, per week £34.91 £35.61 4th year of employment, per week £35.65 £36.36 5th year of employment, per week £38.56 £39.33 6th year of employment, per week £40.50 £41.31 7th year of employment, per week £42.94 £43.80 8th year of employment, per week £46.02 £46.94 19.3 The Council expressed concern that any solicitor should fail to pay the statutory minimum. However, as no specific names had been forwarded to die 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. 19.4 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. 19.5 It is very difficult for the Society to achieve good public relations for our profession if some members are consistently in breach of the statutory minimum rates. 171 19.1 During the year two full meetings of the Law Clerks Joint Labour Committee

LAW SOCIETY REPRESENTATIVES ON THE LAW CLERKS JOINT LABOUR COMMITTEE

Francis X. Burke Laurence CuOen Gerard M. Doyle Patrick McEntee Enda C. Gearty Gerald J. Moloney Robert McD. Taylor