A company which provided security for the Police Service of Northern
Ireland could have to pay out more than £40,000 after losing a test
employment tribunal case over holiday pay, it was claimed.
Resource
UK Ltd must pay all employees 28 days' paid holiday each to conform to
European working time regulations, a tribunal ruling secured by the GMB
union said.
The panel in Belfast decided that the company's claim
that paying double time for a day's leave allowed it to reduce the
amount of paid leave employees are entitled to each year is not legal
under the directives.
Resource UK is a security company employing
700 people to provide security at around 70 police stations and other
locations. Staff also monitor CCTV and undertake detention duties within
stations.
The company has been ordered to pay a total of £1,154
to compensate three GMB security staff for holiday time not paid in the
year 2010/11. The union said several other cases were waiting to be
heard by tribunals on the same issue. GMB has asked Resource if it will
settle all outstanding cases but the company is still reviewing the test
case decision. The amount owed per person ranges from £196 to
£800. The union said the amount outstanding in claims could run to more
than £40,000.
Michael Mulholland, GMB regional officer, said:
"These workers do an important job as part of the law-enforcement
community across Northern Ireland. GMB consider that this ruling is a
good outcome to a struggle that began over two years ago and reflects
the determination of the union to secure our members' legal rights.
"The
outcome proves the value of trade union membership to workers,
especially those employed by the private sector contractors like this
one.
"All employers in Northern Ireland need to be aware that GMB
will take action to ensure that they conform to all employment
legislation." A spokesman for Resource UK Ltd declined to comment.
Source: Press Association
