LCR22797

1.Pay Deal

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 the 28 April 2023 in accordance with Section 26(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990.

A Labour Court hearing took place on 20 July 2023.

The following is the recommendation of the Court:

RECOMMENDATION:

The Court has given very careful consideration to the written and oral submissions of the parties.

The parties have engaged extensively in an effort to conclude a pay agreement to succeed the previous agreement which expired on 31^stDecember 2022. The various negotiating positions of the parties were outlined to the Court at the hearing and the detail of positions reached in finality at conciliation under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission were also outlined to the Court by the parties.

The Court does not consider that it would be helpful to outline in any detail the various positions which were explored during direct engagement or at conciliation. The Court however notes that, in finality, a total difference of 3% across the lifetime of a three-year potential agreement appears to have existed between the parties at negotiating level at least.

Having regard to all of the written and oral submissions set out by the parties, the Court recommends that the parties should agree that the following pay arrangements should apply with effect from 1^stJanuary 2023:

• 
  •A pay increase of 5% to have effect from 1^stJanuary 2023

  •A pay increase of 2.5% to have effect from 1^stJanuary 2024

  •A pay increase of 2% to have effect from 1^stJanuary 2025

• 
  •A voucher amount within allowable tax-free arrangements of €350 to be paid in 2023

  •A voucher amount within allowable tax-free arrangements of €250 to be paid in 2024

  •A voucher amount within allowable tax-free arrangements of €250 to be paid in 2025

The agreement to expire on 31^stDecember 2025.

The Court so recommends.

	Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
	Kevin Foley
CO'R	______________________
1 August 2023	Chairman