Labour Court recommends pause in St Gobain Gyproc outsourcing plan

The Labour Court recommended that St Gobain Gyproc pause plans to outsource its engineering stores and jointly assess the in-house and outsourcing options. The recommendation was dated 3 July 2026. The dispute involved two general operatives represented by SIPTU. St Gobain Gyproc said outsourcing would improve efficiency and security, support competitiveness ahead of a new plaster-products manufacturer entering Ireland in 2027, and cause no job losses. SIPTU opposed the plan, citing concerns about future outsourcing and the lack of a detailed financial rationale. The Court recommended a joint evaluation by experts nominated by the employer and union, considering cost, service quality and effectiveness, as well as the cost of training the workers. The parties should discuss the findings, with WRC services available if needed.