Labour Court recommends Cork City Council and SIPTU agree pick-up truck staffing levels

The Labour Court recommended that Cork City Council and SIPTU engage to establish a shared understanding of staffing levels for pick-up trucks. The recommendation was dated 19 February 2026. The dispute followed a change from three workers to two per truck after COVID-19 measures. SIPTU said the earlier staffing arrangement had been agreed and that two-person crews denied workers the chance to receive a dirt allowance worth about €740 per person annually. The Council said two-person crews had become established practice and that a 2006 agreement allowed it to redeploy staff. SIPTU acknowledged it had no documentation of a formal agreement on truck staffing. The Court said it could not find that the Council breached a collective agreement or recommend the staffing concession sought, but noted that engagement between the parties appeared lacking.