LCR23291

PARTIES:

DIVISION:

SUBJECT:

Complaint under Section 26(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990.

BACKGROUND:

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 14 May 2026 in accordance with Section 26(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990.

A Labour Court hearing took place on 18 June 2026.

RECOMMENDATION:

The matter before the Court is a referral by the parties in relation to a dispute about pay terms. 

The Company is part of the Coillte Group. It manufactures wood panels in Clonmel, County Tipperary.  SIPTU represents General operatives on site. Connect represents Maintenance Technicians.

A three-year pay agreement expired in February 2025. SIPTU together with CONNECT submitted a joint pay claim to the company on behalf of their members. Having failed to reach agreement at local level discussions, the matter was referred to the Conciliation Services of the WRC. CONNECT subsequently withdrew from the WRC process.  A WRC proposal was rejected by SIPTU members, following which the company and SIPTU sought a referral of the matter to the Labour Court.

Union Arguments:

3.  1. The Union seek a basic increase of 12% over 36 months – 4% each for year 1, 2 and 3, a Christmas cover Voucher for €200-and 1-day extra Service Day for anyone with 40 years of service or more.

2. The Union also seek that retired members that retired during the lifetime of the protracted pay talks receive retrospection.

Employer Arguments:

4. 1. The Employer proposes a 9% pay increase over a three-year period from 1 March 2025 to 28 February 2028 – 3.5% in year 1; 3.5% in year 2 and 2% in year 3 plus a €200 Christmas voucher for those employees that cover the relevant shift. Extra service days for employees with 40 years or more service                

2. The Employer states that it would be a significant change and set a precedent if retired employees were to be included in pay talks.

Recommendation

The Court has given careful consideration to the submissions made at the hearing.

Having regard to all of the circumstance of this case, the Court makes the following recommendation.

Pay - An increase of 10% to apply over a three-year period from 1 March 2025 to 29 February 2028, as follows:

• 3.5 % in year 1 (2025/2026)
• 4% in year 2 (2026/2027)
• 2.5% in year 3 (2027/2028)

Christmas Cover Voucher: The value of the Voucher for Christmas cover to increase from €80 to €200 for those required to cover the relevant shifts in the period (minimum Crew Cover).

Service Days: From 1/1/2025, anyone with service of 40 years or more will receive one extra Service Day which can be taken at any time during the calendar year in which their 40-year anniversary falls.

For anyone with more than 40 years on 1/1/2025, retrospective Service Days will be applied for the year (2025) only, e.g. someone with 41 years will receive 2 extra Service Days in 2025 only, someone with 42 years will receive 3 extra Service Days in 2025 only.

From 1/1/2026, only the Service Day relating to the 40th year anniversary will remain on the Service Day entitlement. Normal carryover policies will apply.

The terms of this recommendation only applies to those in active employment with the company. 

The Court so recommends.

	Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
	Katie Connolly
TH	______________________
30/06/2026	Deputy Chairman

NOTE

Enquiries concerning this Recommendation should be in writing and addressed to Ms Therese Hickey, Court Secretary.