FULL RECOMMENDATION
SECTION 26(1), INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT, 1990 PARTIES : VIRGIN MEDIA IRELAND - AND - 400 MIXED GRADES (REPRESENTED BY SERVICES INDUSTRIAL PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL UNION & UNITE THE UNION) DIVISION : Chairman: Mr Foley Employer Member: Mr Marie Worker Member: Ms Tanham |
1. Pay Claim
BACKGROUND:
2. 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 15 April 2019 in accordance with Section 26(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990. A Labour Court hearing took place on 16 August 2019.
UNION’S ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. The Union is seeking a pay increase for their members from 1 January 2019.
2. The Union stated that they have no objection in principle to moving the pay round date, and no objection in principle to a multi-year agreement.
EMPLOYER'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1. The Employer is proposing an alteration in pay round date, changing from January to April, commencing in 2019.
2. The Employer is proposing a 2.25% for the key category in the performance matrix from April 2019 in respect of 2018 performance, along with a lump sum payment to deal with movement of the pay round date.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Court has given careful consideration to the written and oral submissions of the parties.
The matter before the Court is concerned with the performance related pay framework in place in the company and the application of pay increases to that structure. The company has proposed the re-alignment of the ‘pay year’ and the conclusion of a two year pay agreement thereafter. The Trade Union side has asserted to the Court that it does not have an issue in principle with the proposals of the company but that it does not accept the quantum of increase proposed by the company.
Taking all of the above into account and understanding that all rates within the structure automatically follow from the increase applied to the ‘strong’ rating the Court recommends as follows:
•That the ‘strong’ rating should attract a 2.5% increase from April 2019 to March 2020. Having regard to the fact that the traditional pay round date was January and the previous agreement expired in December 2018 an increase of one quarter of the twelve-month increase of 2.5% should apply in respect of the period from January 2019 to April 2019. That one quarter amount is 0.625% to apply from 1stJanuary 2019. All other ratings to be adjusted on the basis of the above increases.•That the ‘strong’ rating should attract an increase of 2.5% for the period from April 2020 to March 2021. All other ratings to be adjusted on the basis of the above increase.
The Court so recommends.
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
Kevin Foley
DC______________________
21 August 2019Chairman
NOTE
Enquiries concerning this Recommendation should be addressed to David Campbell, Court Secretary.