Labour Court Database __________________________________________________________________________________ File Number: CD86739 Case Number: LCR10767 Section / Act: S67 Parties: IRISH DISTILLERS LTD - and - FWUI;ITGWU |
26th wage round/comprehensive agreement.
Recommendation:
20. This claim brings up matters which were deferred for future
consideration by the previous two wage agreements. After careful
consideration of these matters, and of the very detailed
submissions both written and verbal made by the parties the Court
recommends as follows:-
1. An interim increase of 3% should be paid from date of
termination of the previous agreement, i.e. 1st May, 1986.
2. Service pay should be adjusted as per the following table:-
#1.00 after 5 years'
#1.50 after 10 years'
#2.50 after 15 years'
#3.00 after 20 years'
#4.00 after 25 years'
3. No change should be made to the shift premium.
4. The Sub-Committees which were dealing with
(a) Pension Scheme.
(b) Profit Sharing Scheme.
(c) Procedural Agreement.
should press ahead with their negotiations with the intention of
reaching agreement as quickly as possible.
5. From the date of finalisation of an agreement on the matters
in paragraph 4 above and including the other outstanding matters,
an additional increase of 4% should be paid in the context of an
agreement terminating on 31st July, 1987.
Division: Ms Owens Mr McHenry Mr Walsh
Text of Document__________________________________________________________________
CD86739 THE LABOUR COURT LCR10767
CC861526 INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1976
RECOMMENDATION NO. 10767
PARTIES: IRISH DISTILLERS LIMITED
(REPRESENTED BY THE FEDERATED UNION OF EMPLOYERS)
AND
IRISH TRANSPORT AND GENERAL WORKERS' UNION
FEDERATED WORKERS' UNION OF IRELAND
UNION OF CONSTRUCTION ALLIED TRADES AND TECHNICIANS
NATIONAL ENGINEERING AND ELECTRICAL TRADE UNION
AMALGAMATED UNION OF ENGINEERING WORKERS
AMALGAMATED UNION OF ENGINEERING WORKERS (TASS)
Subject:
1. 26th wage round/comprehensive agreement.
Background:
2. Issues relating to a review of the pension scheme and a
review of the profit share scheme in the Company have been the
subject of discussion between the parties over the last number of
wage agreements in the Company. Sub-committees were set up to
examine these issues. As part of the 1985 wages agreement the
parties committed themselves to negotiate a procedure agreement
and a review of the absenteeism/sick pay agreement.
Sub-committees were also set-up to examine these items. In
January, 1986, the Unions wrote to the Company seeking a review of
plus-payment in the Company. In April, 1986, the Unions, on
behalf of the 350 workers (approximately) concerned, served a
number of claims on the Company in respect of the 26th wage round
- the terms of the 25th wage round expired on 30th April, 1986.
The Unions' claims under the 26th wage round were as follows:-
(a) an increase of 12% in basic pay for 12 months from 1st May,
1986.
(b) increase in service pay, and
(c) an increase in shift allowance.
3. No agreement on any of the above mentioned issues was reached
at local level discussions and the matters were referred to the
conciliation service of the Labour Court. At a conciliation
conference, held on 6th May, 1986, it was decided by both sides
that all issues would be on the table with a view to negotiating a
comprehensive 'package deal' agreement. The outstanding issues to
be discussed therefore were:-
(a) 1986 pay agreement,
(b) plus-pay,
(c) review of pension scheme,
(d) absenteeism/sick pay review,
(e) procedural agreement,
(f) review of profit share scheme.
Conciliation conferences took place on 19th May, 23rd June and
23rd July, 1986, at which the possibility of a 'package deal' was
discussed. At the latter conference the Company put forward an
offer, in the form of a 'package' on the above issues. This offer
is attached as an appendix to this recommendation. This
conciliation conference was adjourned to allow for circulation and
consideration of a final document on procedures. At a further
conciliation conference, held on 12th September, 1986, the Unions
declared that they wanted to conclude an agreement on the 26th
wage round and that the other issues would be addressed later.
The Company was not prepared to discuss the claims relating to the
26th wage round in isolation and insisted on negotiating a
comprehensive agreement embracing all outstanding issues. The
conciliation conference concluded with the Unions referring their
claims in respect of the 26th round only to the Labour Court for
investigation and recommendation while the Company requested that
the Court investigate and recommend upon a comprehensive agreement
to cover pay, conditions and procedures as referred to above. The
Court investigated the dispute on 2nd October, 1986.
26TH WAGE ROUND CLAIMS
Claim (a) an increase of 12% in basic pay for 12 months
Background:
4. The terms of the 25th wage round expired for the 350 workers
(approximately) concerned on 30th April, 1986. The current weekly
basic pay rates of these workers are as follows:-
General Operatives Maintenance Craftsmen Shift Process
Operatives
Min - Max
#163.39 - #177.64 #191.96 #183.17
The Unions, on behalf of the workers, served a claim on the
Company for a basic pay increase of 12%, in respect of the 26th
wage round, effective from 1st May, 1986, for a period of 12
months. The Company rejected the claim but as part of a 'package
deal' offered a 3% increase in basic rates for 12 months from 1st
May, 1986. The Unions rejected the offer.
Unions' arguments:
5. (i) The Unions' are not prepared to discuss a
comprehensive package which would include the 26th
wage round on the basis that the complexities
involved would ensure that negotiations would be long
drawn out and would impact adversely on settlement
expectations. Also, the Unions feel that progress in
any discussions on a comprehensive agreement have a
greater chance of success if the 26th round issue was
disposed of separately.
(ii) Wage increases in the Company over the past five
years have not kept pace with the level of inflation