Limerick workers win two-year fight for pay rise

HUNDREDS of employees at Wyeth in Askeaton have won a two-year battle to secure a wage increase, after the dispute reached the Labour Court.

The conflict, between Wyeth and the Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (Siptu), began in April 2016 and failed to be solved locally.

It concerned a pay rise of 2.5% for workers at the baby formula plant, payable from the 2016 date.

The workplace relations case states that it concerned “approximately 600” employees at the factory, but a spokesperson for Wyeth said that just 300 are members of Siptu.

After failing to reach a resolution at a local level, the dispute was the subject of a Conciliation Conference, held under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission.

Again, agreement was not reached, and the matter was referred to the Labour Court. The court hearing took place on March 14 of this year.

After giving “very careful consideration” to the written and oral submissions of the parties involved, the court recommended that the trade union claim should be resolved by payment of 2.5% to the members of Siptu who are employed at Wyeth.

“That pay increase should take effect from 1st April 2016 and the trade union should, in return, maintain the agreed commitment to normal ongoing change,” recommended the court.

A spokesperson for the company said that it accepted the recommendation and looks forward to “continuing to work positively and proactively with our employees and their representatives.”