Labour Court recommends further talks on Lakeland Dairies operators’ grading claim

The Labour Court recommended further talks between Lakeland Dairies and eight milk intake operators represented by SIPTU over a claim to regrade the operators from Grade 6 to Grade 7/Chargehand, with retrospective effect to Spring 2023. The Court said it could not recommend the claim at that time because it lacked information about the role’s duties, the union’s proposed grading method, wider grading implications and costs. It recommended that the parties conclude further engagement within three months. The recommendation was signed on 15 July 2025.