LCR22830

1.Pay Negotiations In Respect Of Salary Path Members For 2022 (Payable 1st April 2023)

BACKGROUND:

2.This dispute could not be resolved at local level and was the subject of two Conciliation Conferences under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. As agreement was not reached, the dispute was referred to the Labour Court on 5 July 2023 in accordance with Section 26(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990. A Labour Court Hearing took place on 29 September 2023, the following is the Recommendation of the Court:

RECOMMENDATION:

The resolution of this pay claim by the Union requires the Court to address three elements because of the pay structure applied to the Workers concerned.

‘Pot 1’ encompasses cost of living etc.

‘Pot 2’ is performance based.

In addition, the Employer has offered a ‘once off’, additional increase in pensionable salary, due to the current high rate of cost of living increases.

At conciliation, the Employer offered increases of 2.5% in Pot 1 and increases in Pot 2 of 0.75% to staff who fully meet requirements; 1.25% to staff who exceed requirements and 1.75% to staff who are deemed to be outstanding. In addition, an amount of 1.5% was offered by way of the ‘once off’ additional salary increase.

The Union sought cost of living increases in Pot 1 of 4.5% to 5.5%.

The Employer expressed concern that increases in Pot 1 would have knock-on cost implications for them.

The Union expressed concerns that increases in Pot 2 would apply only to 40 of the 90 people covered by the claim.

The Court, having heard the arguments of both parties regarding possible pay increases, recommends as follows;

Pot 1. An increase of 2.5%

Pot 2. Increases of the following,

0.75% to staff who fully meet requirements

1.25% to staff who exceed requirements

1.75% to staff deemed to be outstanding

An additional exceptional salary increase of 2% to apply to all Workers covered by the claim.

As a consequence, the increases recommended amount to 4.5% for those for whom Pot 2 is not applicable up to a potential maximum increase of 6.25% for those covered in Pot 2 who are deemed to be outstanding.

As per the agreement between the parties, these increases are payable from 1 April 2023.

	Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
	Tom Geraghty
DC	______________________
4 October 2023	Deputy Chairman