Court recommends phased 6% pay rise

The Labour Court has recommended that global eyehealth company Bausch + Lomb award its 900 Siptu workers a phased 6% pay increase.

The US multinational employs 1,100 at its Waterford base, and the Labour Court has recommended that the payment of the 6% through three separate pay increases be made on condition of co-operation from the workforce on normal ongoing change at the plant.

Siptu sectoral organiser for the pharma-medical device chemical sector, Alan O’Leary, said yesterday that its members at the plant are to be balloted on the recommendation with the outcome expected to be known by the end of this week.

He said: “We are recommending to workers that they accept the Labour Court recommendation. We believe that the pay increase is justified. It will assist the workers’ income. We are very pleased with the outcome of the Labour Court.”

Mr O’Leary said a pay freeze at the plant has been in place since 2010. He said Siptu members at the plant had a meeting on Monday to discuss the recommendation “and the mood of the meeting was very upbeat”.

The Labour Court has recommended that the workers’ pay increase should increase as follows: A 2% increase with effect from Mar 1, 2012; a 2% increase from Jan 1, 2013, and a 2% increase from Jan 1, 2014.

Mr O’Leary said the recommendation has an element of retrospective payments.

A spokesman for the company said last night: “Bausch + Lomb is actively engaged in negotiations with Siptu, the trade union representing the majority of employees at our manufacturing facility in Waterford, regarding a pay claim. We are committed to seeking resolution through normal industrial relations procedures, and will refrain from further comment at this time.”

Bausch + Lamb’s Irish subsidiary is unlimited and is not required to complete annual accounts disclosing revenues and profits.