Labour Court recommends pay proposal and talks at Galtee Meats

In 2000, the Labour Court recommended that Galtee Meats implement a conciliation proposal on pay and continue discussions with the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union about tensions between newer employees’ rates and higher-skilled work. The recommendation was signed on 27 October 2000. The union sought an increase to the official rate for newer employees, arguing they did higher-skilled work and that the company could afford an adjustment after workers’ earlier concessions. It said those concessions included foregoing two increases amounting to 6.75% and reducing personal allowances from 12% to 8%. Galtee Meats cited investment needs, competition and its existing pay agreement. The Court accepted that an agreement on rates existed but said the two-tier system was creating tensions.