FULL RECOMMENDATION
SECTION 26(1), INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT, 1990 PARTIES : BOC GASES IRELAND LIMITED - AND - 174 - CLERICAL, DRIVERS & ENGINEERS (REPRESENTED BY SERVICES INDUSTRIAL PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL UNION UNITE THE UNION) DIVISION : Chairman: Mr Geraghty Employer Member: Ms Connolly Worker Member: Mr Hall |
1. Pay claim and an increase in the daily meal allowance.
BACKGROUND:
2. This dispute relates to a pay claim over two years and an increase in the daily meal allowance.
The Union said that it is seeking a pay increase for two years beginning 1 August 2019 and concluding 31 July 2021 and an increase in the daily meal allowance.
The Employer said that it is facing significant challenges to its business in terms of rising operational costs, aggressive competitor activity and loss of market share and the potential impact of Brexit.
- 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 25 October 2019 in accordance with Section 26(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990.
A Labour Court hearing took place on 10 January 2020.
UNIONS ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. The Workers serve much of the pharmaceutical industries and the HSE and should, therefore, be bracketed within the general pay increases in this sector.
2. A 3% increase should be the minimum pay increase per year.
3. The meal allowance should be increased from €8.80 per day to €10 per day.
EMPLOYER'S ARGUMENTS:
- 1. The Company pay rates and terms and conditions for staff are very generous. Following discussions at the WRC, the Company increased its offer to 2.6% per year. This is fair and reasonable considering the low rate of inflation.
3. An offer to increase the meal allowance by 2.5% was also made.2. All drivers, general operators, service engineers and clerical staff have access to significant overtime earnings potential, annual bonus payments and annual allowances.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Court recommends the following pay increases;
2.8% from 1 August 2019,
2.8% from 1 August 2020.
The Court recommends that the meal allowance be increased to €9.50 per day.
It is the recommendation of the Court that an agreement between the parties, based on the figures above, should run to 31 July 2021.
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
Tom Geraghty
CR______________________
16 January, 2020Deputy Chairman
NOTE
Enquiries concerning this Recommendation should be addressed to Ciaran Roche, Court Secretary.