Labour Court recommends assessment of Diageo technicians’ pay claim

In 2007, the Labour Court recommended that Diageo Ireland (Guinness) and the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union use an internal assessment process to consider a pay claim for about 18 laboratory technicians and analysts. The recommendation was signed on 21 May 2007. The union sought a 3% increase, saying the workers had co-operated with changes under a continuous improvement programme, including more frequent night shifts and additional holiday work. Diageo Ireland (Guinness) said the technicians had rejected its proposed integrated team structure and that the claim would increase costs. The Court recommended that the Staff Assessment Panel examine the size and scope of the technicians’ roles to decide what increase, if any, might be due.