Boots workers to benefit from 8%-11% wage increase

WAGES for hundreds of Boots workers across Ireland are set to increase, following the agreement of a new pay deal. The deal, which was agreed by the Mandate trade union and the chemist chain will see wages increase by 8%-11% over 17 months.

It affects more than 1,400 staff nationwide who have voted overwhelmingly to accept. The agreement, which exceeds the terms of the national wage agreement, Towards 2016, brings all staff working in Boots above the average retail hourly wage of €9 per hour.

Mandate’s national official, Linda Tanham said the Boots deal amounts to a pay increase of around €1 per hour for most grades of staff.

“It means a greater rise in wages for those in the lower earning grades, with those on the second lowest grade earning 11% more than their current rate. What’s also significant is that the Boots staff will receive their wage increases in full with immediate effect,” she said.

Workers on a grade one pay scale will see their wages rise from €8.35 to €9.11. Grade two workers will see an increase of 11% from €8.89 to €9.89. Team leaders wages’ will be increased by €1 to €13.71.

Ms Tanham said it has been agreed by the parties that the deal is cost-increasing and the company will seek changes in work practices to offset the cost of the deal. Both sides have agreed that they will work over a 24 months towards a salary-to-sales ratio of 7.9%, which is the company norm.