The Labour Court has recommended that Examiner Publications pay €600,000 in compensation to the company's 339 employees over the company's move from its existing premises in Academy Street to new offices at Lapp's Quay in Cork city.
The recommendation from the Labour Court specifies that the money is to paid in compensation for the loss of hot canteen facilities and in return for employees' full co-operation with the move.
The company, which publishes the Irish Examiner and the Evening Echo, is moving from the Academy Street premises.
The recommendation follows a decision by the National Union of Journalists, Amicus and Siptu to refuse an initial offer of €120,000 compensation over the loss of the hot canteen facilities which have been available to staff at Academy Street for over 25 years.
The dispute was referred to a Conciliation Conference under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission which saw the company make a final offer of €240,000 but this was also rejected by the unions and it was then referred to the Labour Court on July 7th last.
The unions argued that the subsidised hot canteen was introduced for all the staff at Academy Street over 25 years ago. Management argued it would not be economical to provide a canteen in the new building.
However, the Labour Court found that the company should pay compensation to the staff for both the loss of hot canteen facilities and its co-operation with the move.