FULL RECOMMENDATION
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1990 SECTION 26(1), INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT, 1990 PARTIES : CHEP IRELAND - AND - SERVICES INDUSTRIAL PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL UNION DIVISION : Chairman: Mr Hayes Employer Member: Mr Murphy Worker Member: Mr Shanahan |
1. Pay claim.
BACKGROUND:
2. This dispute concerns the Union's claim for a backdated 2% pay increase. This dispute could not be resolved at local level and was the subject of a Conciliation Conference under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission. As agreement was not reached, the dispute was referred to the Labour Court on the 18th March, 2015, in accordance with Section 26(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990. A Labour Court hearing took place on the 6th May, 2015.
UNION'S ARGUMENTS:
3 1 The Company enjoys the benefit of almost a monopoly.
2 The Company is part of a very profitable international Group.
3 The pay claim is a reasonable recognition of the Workers' contribution to the Company.
COMPANY'S ARGUMENTS:
4 1 The Company strongly rejects the Union's contention that it enjoys a near monopoly.
2 The Group has already given all its staff a 1.5% pay increase. Pay rates in the Company are already competitive. The Company's labour costs are already the highest in the Group
3. The Company's market share is under pressure from a number of international competitors with considerably lower pay rates.
RECOMMENDATION:
Having given careful consideration to the submissions of both parties to this dispute the Court recommends that the Company increase the pay offer to 2% with effect from 1 July 2014 to run for a period of twelve months.
The Court so recommends.
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
Brendan Hayes
2nd June, 2015______________________
JMcCDeputy Chairman
NOTE
Enquiries concerning this Recommendation should be addressed to Jonathan McCabe, Court Secretary.