Labour Court recommends Leo Pharma productivity package for Crumlin plant

The Labour Court recommended that Leo Pharma’s amended productivity and cost-saving proposals go to a ballot of union members as a package, in full and final settlement of four outstanding issues. Its recommendation was signed on 24 September 2012, following a dispute with the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union (SIPTU). The dispute covered early starts, staffing in the Active Additions and Dispensing Section, pay increases and retrospection. The union argued that the company could afford the increases and that its changes would significantly affect members. Leo Pharma said the savings were needed to remain competitive and offset higher salary costs with increased productivity. The Court recommended an alternative early-start arrangement and the transfer of an operative to another process, finding there would be no job losses or loss of earnings. It found no basis to improve the proposed pay increases and performance bonus payments. The package also included nine months’ retrospection of the first phase of pay increases, payable as a lump sum within one month of the union’s acceptance.