Labour Court rejects Diageo worker’s wage-increase claim

The Labour Court recommended that Diageo Ireland Ltd not concede a worker’s claim for a National Wage Agreement increase. The recommendation was signed on 3 July 2007. The worker said he was employed when the increase fell due on 1 January 2006, despite taking voluntary redundancy or early retirement, and that other departing employees received increases. Diageo said a severance agreement settled all claims and the worker, a team leader on performance-related pay, was not entitled to the increase. The Court found no merit in the claim, citing the agreement between the company and team leaders.