Labour Court recommends changes to Murray Timber pay structure

The Labour Court has recommended that Murray Timber (Ballon) Ulc discontinue its current pay structure with immediate effect and engage with SIPTU on a more transparent production-related payment. The recommendation, dated 27 April 2026, followed a dispute over how pay was calculated for 36 general operatives. The workers receive a base rate and a variable production-related payment. Some have a base rate of €12.15 an hour, while others receive €14.65. SIPTU argued the variable payment was substituting for part of the minimum wage and made take-home pay hard to predict. The company said it rewarded output and productivity and that changing the system would add payroll work. The Court said it could not recommend continuing a structure under which many lower-paid workers’ base rate fell below the current National Minimum Wage. It also commended the parties for agreeing to seek help from the WRC Advisory Service to improve local engagement.