Labour Court declines pay review referral requested by 4600 Mixed Academic Grades

The Labour Court could not recommend referring a senior-pay dispute to the proposed Higher Remuneration Body, as requested by 4600 Mixed Academic Grades (represented by TUI). The recommendation was dated 24 December 2025. The dispute with the Department Of Further And Higher Education, Research, Innovation And Science (Dfheris) concerned alleged non-adherence to a 2017 collective agreement on senior pay in the Technological University sector. The union sought an urgent review and respect for the agreement; the Department said it did not require equal rates and that the claim would increase costs contrary to the Public Service Agreement 2024–26. The Court noted that the union had not been told about the intended pay rates until WRC conciliation, and said the rationale for the contested rates was made available late. It said the proposed review body had not been established on a statutory basis and no clear route to access it had been outlined. The Court also said timely information exchange and a meaningful no-surprises approach mattered for good industrial relations.