WRC finds DAA made illegal wage deduction from airport worker

The Workplace Relations Commission found that Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) Plc illegally deducted wages from employee Philip Newell after cutting his working week to three days and his pay to 60% of the normal rate. The decision, dated 13 December 2022, upheld his Payment of Wages Act complaint but made no award of compensation. The WRC found Newell’s contract did not allow the reduction and that no statutory basis supported the cut. It said 80% of his wages were properly payable from October 2020 to March 2021, and 100% from March to August 2021. DAA had said the reduction responded to the pandemic’s effect on revenue and available work. The officer cited the company’s financial challenges, efforts to safeguard jobs, union-employer engagement, advance warning and Newell’s ability to work elsewhere when deciding against compensation.