Labour Court recommends £7.83 hourly increment at Dunnes Stores

The Labour Court recommended that Dunnes Stores introduce a long-service increment of £7.83 an hour for employees with 10 years' service, effective from 26 October 2001. It recommended that this rate should not receive the proposed supplemental 2% increase if that increase was later implemented. Mandate sought increments for staff with more than seven years' service, arguing that long-service increments were established in retail and could help retain experienced workers. Dunnes Stores opposed the claim, saying its pay rates were among the most competitive in the sector and the claim would increase costs. The Court also recommended that the parties expedite negotiations on the supplemental 2% increase under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. It said consideration of an increment after seven years should be deferred until those negotiations concluded.