WRC recommends Deputy Catering Manager accept technical university’s offer

The WRC has recommended that a Deputy Catering Manager accept an offer from A Technical University to resolve his long-running request for regrading. The recommendation was dated 6 March 2026. The worker, who had held the role since 2005, said his pay scale did not reflect his duties and sought regrading backdated to October 2022. A Technical University said changes to public-sector pay scales required collective, sector-level negotiation and it could not move him unilaterally. Adjudication Officer Úna Glazier-Farmer recommended that the worker accept the offer, effective from 15 October 2025, describing it as fair and reasonable given the industrial-relations constraints and tailored to his circumstances. She said compensation was not appropriate because of the collective agreements and the risk of setting an unintended precedent.