Labour Court upholds Argos workers’ claim to long-service increment from year six

The Labour Court upheld workers’ claim for Argos to pay the first long-service increment from the start of their sixth year at its Longford store. The decision was signed on 21 December 2012. Mandate said the 2007 pay agreement made the increment due at the start of year six; Argos said it applied after six years’ service. The Court found the agreement’s wording supported the union’s view, while the company’s practice since 2007 supported management’s interpretation. It directed the parties to engage promptly, tell staff about the dispute procedures and take no further action until those procedures were completed.