Labour Court recommends Dublin Bus reject 14.5% pay-parity claim

The Labour Court has recommended that Dublin Bus reject a pay-parity claim from about 190 Engineering Operatives unless it is linked to productivity measures. In a recommendation dated 12 November 2024, the Court urged the parties to pursue a 4.5% productivity-based increase and align two pay scales within eight weeks. SIPTU, representing the workers, sought parity with traffic operatives without productivity concessions. Dublin Bus proposed work-practice changes and other flexibilities, which the union rejected. The Court said a March 2024 agreement required pay increases outside basic rounds to be self-funded through productivity measures. It did not recommend the parity claim, but recommended further talks on the increase and scale alignment.