Labour Court backs later pay increase and higher shift premium at Priority Drilling

The Labour Court recommended that a pay increase at Priority Drilling take effect from 31 December 2003 and that the shift premium rise to 26% from 1 October 2004. It rejected the union’s requested increase in basic pay to €11.08 an hour. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union had sought the 3% increase from an earlier date, higher basic pay and a larger shift premium for underground workers contracted to Tara Mines. The company said the April 2002 agreement was the only pay agreement and the claims were barred by it. The Court said the agreement precluded further pay rises until 31 December 2003, and that the basic-pay claim was not soundly based. It signed the recommendation on 12 July 2004.