FULL RECOMMENDATION
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1990 SECTION 26(1), INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT, 1990 PARTIES : DAWN MEATS IRELAND T/A MEADOW MEATS - AND - SERVICES INDUSTRIAL PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL UNION DIVISION : Chairman: Mr Hayes Employer Member: Mr Murphy Worker Member: Mr McCarthy |
1. Pay Claim.
BACKGROUND:
2. The case before the Court concerns a dispute between the Employer and the Union in relation to the Union's claim for an increase in pay for its members employed as General Operatives at Meadow Meats. It is the Union's position that its members have not received an increase in pay for a number of years. Furthermore the Union believes that the Company is in a financial position to meet its pay claim. The Employer put forward a set of proposals to the Union for consideration, however, agreement could not be reached between the parties. The 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 27th January, 2015, in accordance with Section 26(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990. A Labour Court hearing took place on the 21st April, 2015 and a further hearing took place on 25th August, 2015.
UNION'S ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. The workers concerned are paid various various rates of pay ranging from minimum wage to €9 per hour. There is no justification for such a variation in pay levels.
2. The work involved is hard and unpleasant and deserves a rate of pay commensurate with the difficult nature of the work. A reasonable standard rate of pay applicable to all staff involved in this work should be introduced.
3. The minimum wage is not an adequate level of remuneration for the work involved. The Union contends that the workers concerned should be paid at least the living wage and should not be reliant on subsidies from the State by way of income support payments.
EMPLOYER'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1. The Company is engaged in a highly competitive marketplace and its rates of pay are in line with those paid on competitor companies.
2. The minimum wage is a standard rate in the industry. This rate is set to increase from €8.65 per hour to €9.15 per hour in the near future following the Report of the Low Pay Commission. This will considerably increase the Company's cost base.
3. The Company is prepared to engage with the Union regarding future pay increases commencing in January 2017.
RECOMMENDATION:
Having carefully considered the submissions of both parties to this dispute the Court recommends that the Company introduce a new standard hourly rate of pay for all staff in accordance with the following schedule:
1 January 2015 €9.15 per hour
1 January 2016 €9.65 per hour
1 January 2017 €10.00 per hour
The pay agreement to expire on 31 December 2017.
The Court so recommends.
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
Brendan Hayes
7th September, 2015______________________
SCDeputy Chairman
NOTE
Enquiries concerning this Recommendation should be addressed to Sharon Cahill, Court Secretary.