FULL RECOMMENDATION
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1990 SECTION 26(1), INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT, 1990 PARTIES : BALLINA CREDIT UNION (REPRESENTED BY IRISH BUSINESS AND EMPLOYERS' CONFEDERATION) - AND - SERVICES INDUSTRIAL PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL UNION DIVISION : Chairman: Mr Duffy Employer Member: Ms Cryan Worker Member: Ms Tanham |
1. Pay Claim
BACKGROUND:
2. This dispute relates to a pay claim. This dispute could not be resolved at local level and was the subject of a Conciliation Conference under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. As agreement was not reached, the dispute was referred to the Labour Court on the 11 February 2016 in accordance with Section 26(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990.
A Labour Court hearing took place on the 6 May 2016.
UNION’S ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. Employees have not received a pay increase since 2008.
2. A pay claim was submitted in March 2015.
3. Cost offsetting measures were greater than the pay offer being made by the employer.
EMPLOYER'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1. The employer submits that they pay the highest rates of pay in their sector in the west of Ireland
2. No pay cuts were implemented during difficult financial periods.
3. Concessions to offset the cost of any pay increase were not forthcoming.
RECOMMENDATION:
It appears to the Court that there is some confusion between the parties as to the basis on which conciliation in this case concluded. In these circumstances the Court recommends that the parties should return to conciliation with a view to concluding a pay agreement. However, for the assistance of the parties the Court considers it appropriate to make specific recommendations on the elements that the agreement should contain in so far as it possible to do so at this stage. Accordingly, the Court recommends as follows: -
•The agreement should be for a two year period commencing on the date on which agreement is reached•The agreement should provide for a 2% pay increase in each of the two years
•The parties should agree cost offsetting measures in return for the increase in pay referred to above. Any proposals on cost offsetting measures should be fully costed and their value to the employer should not exceed the cost of the pay increase.
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
Kevin Duffy
LS______________________
18 May 2016Chairman
NOTE
Enquiries concerning this Recommendation should be addressed to Louise Shally, Court Secretary.