The Labour Court recommended pay rises of 4% from 1 January 2023 and 3.75% from 1 January 2024 for 1,000 Manor Farm workers. The recommendation, signed on 19 December 2023, also called for cooperation with normal ongoing change and discussions about rostering public holidays.
The pay dispute went to the Court after talks failed. The workers, represented by SIPTU, sought an increase over two years, citing higher living costs and reduced real wages. Manor Farm said public-holiday rostering was important to the factory’s long-term viability and employment.
An earlier proposal for 3% increases in both 2023 and 2024 was rejected by union members. Manor Farm later made an improved offer linked to rostering seven public holidays as normal working days. SIPTU said members had no mandate for that change in this pay claim and considered the move significant.
The Court recommended that the parties cooperate with normal ongoing change, make no cost-increasing claims during the agreement, review the works agreement and engage on public-holiday rostering. The recommended agreement was to expire on 31 December 2024.