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The Labour Court has recommended that Rosderra Irish Meats increase wages, effective from 1 January 2017. This has been an issue for a number of months but could not be solved at a local level. It was referred to the Labour Court at the end of February.
Pay levels at Rosderra have not changed since 2008. Taking this into account, the court also considered the financial impact of wage costs on the overall cost structure of the company and its competitive position.
It recommended that an increase of 2% should be applied from 1 January this year and a further 2% from January 2018.
The union representing the staff, Services Industrial Professional Technical Union, had been seeking an 8% increase over a 24-month period.
However Rosderra, represented by the Irish Business And Employers’ Confederation, argued that a pay rise would be detrimental to the business in the wake of Brexit. It also said that it had not reduced basic pay or full standard productivity bonus during the recession years.
Other conditions
In relation to working hours, the court said Rosderra and the union should discuss afternoon breaks, overtime, the introduction of a four-day work pattern and annual leave at Christmas.
“Wherever agreement can be found on such matters, the financial value of the change should be shared between the parties separately to the increases outlined above,” the court said.
SHARING OPTIONS: