Labour Court declines Lakeland Dairies Shift Workers' premium claim

The Labour Court did not recommend a higher night-shift premium sought by workers at Lakeland Dairies Co-Operative Society Limited, in a recommendation dated 5 December 2019. The Shift Workers, represented by the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union, sought T + 33% for weeks rostered on nights. Existing premiums were T + 25% for rotating shifts and T + 20% for fixed shifts. The company opposed an increase and said the current agreement should remain in place. The Court noted that the parties had a three-year pay deal running until 31 March 2021 and that a recently introduced four-cycle, 12-hour shift pattern had been designed to be cost neutral. It recommended that they examine shift patterns and payments during the next round of pay negotiations, while making no comment on the merits of the union's claim.