Labour Court upholds €2,500 recommendation in Diageo Ireland retirement pay appeal

The Labour Court upheld a recommendation that Diageo Ireland pay €2,500 to a worker represented by the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union (SIPTU), while rejecting his claim for a further 4% pensionable pay increase. The recommendation was signed on 29 November 2021. The dispute concerned Plan 2000, which provided a retirement pension benefit for painters who did not reach Craft Grade C. SIPTU argued the worker was entitled to a 4% increase; Diageo Ireland said his existing pay already exceeded the notional Craft Grade C rate. The Court found that his pay had reached the equivalent of Craft Grade C and he had not been disadvantaged by lacking that grade. It recommended the €2,500 payment in full and final settlement, upholding the adjudication officer’s recommendation.