Labour Court recommends SIPTU accept Kerry Foods Carrigaline offer

The Labour Court recommended that SIPTU accept Kerry Foods Carrigaline’s September 2021 offer in a dispute over pay, annual leave, health insurance and time recording. The recommendation was signed on 28 October 2021. The offer included 2.5% pay increases in 2021 and 2022, two extra annual leave days from 2021 for workers allocated 21 days, and replacing the paper attendance system with electronic recording. The Court found the change would not significantly affect employment and no submission showed it would harm earnings, job security or conditions. The Court recommended leaving the health insurance subsidy claim for possible later discussion. If Kerry Foods Carrigaline grants such a subsidy to hourly paid staff at another location, it recommended extending the same concession to SIPTU members at Carrigaline. SIPTU had objected to the lack of a subsidy in the offer and said electronic recording was a significant change; Kerry Foods Carrigaline said its paper system required substantial resources and was unsustainable.