Labour Court recommends pay survey for Irish National Stud staff

The Labour Court recommended that the Irish National Stud and the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union agree to a new pay survey for two gardeners and three clerical staff. The recommendation was signed on 6 November 2000. The union sought pay increases in line with gardeners at Duchas and clerical staff at Teagasc, saying the workers' rates were lower and visitor growth had increased their workload. The company said the claim would raise costs and break partnership agreements. The Court said restoring pay parity for other grades did not establish a basis for this claim. It recommended that the parties commission an agreed third-party survey within six months, using agreed terms and comparisons with public and private sector employers. In the meantime, it recommended that the union accept the company's offer to discuss earlier dates for implementing PPF increases.