Labour Court rejects Dublin City Council worker’s appeal for backdated pay rises

The Labour Court rejected a Dublin City Council worker’s appeal for backdated pay rises, recommending that he receive the increases only from the date he joined Paypath. The decision was signed on 16 February 2011. The general operative, employed by the Council since 1977, sought two 2.5% increases due from March and September 2008. He argued that Paypath was not compulsory under national agreements and relied on a 1997 agreement allowing existing staff to be paid by cheque. The Council said Paypath was part of its modernisation programme and staff had been notified about the change. The Court found the Council had written to him three times before the 31 December 2007 deadline and told him the increases would be paid from the date he joined Paypath, without backdating. The appeal failed.