Luas drivers are being urged by their trade union to accept a Labour Court recommendation for a 6 per cent pay rise over two years.
Siptu sector organiser John Murphy said on Friday that the union's 212 members who drive for Luas would be balloted next Friday concerning the Labour Court recommendation.
“Our committee is recommending acceptance of the recommendation,” he said. “The current pay rates compare favourably with road transport rates but are behind the current rates in the heavy rail sector. In saying that, the rates have been improving year on year and we expect this to continue.”
A spokeswoman for Transdev, the French-owned operator of Luas, said: “We received the Labour Court’s recommendation on the pay issue with the driver grade and we note its contents.
“Due to the significant impacts of Covid-19 and rising energy costs like a lot of businesses our financial outlook is very challenging, and we are in consultation with head office on the matter. In the meantime we will not be commenting further.”
Labour Court chairman Kevin Foley has recommended a pay increase of 2.5 per cent with effect from January 1st last year and a further 3.5 per cent pay increase with effect from January 1st this year.
Siptu had been seeking a pay increase of 3.5 per cent per annum for five years from the start of last year and maintained that these increases should not be linked to a “mutual gains” framework.
Flexibilities
In response Transdev proposed a 2.5 per cent pay increase backdated to last year and a further 2.5 per cent on each of three years commencing on January 1st this year. However, Transdev said this proposal was contingent on certain flexibilities being achieved based on a “mutual gains” model which was agreed with Siptu.
Mr Foley said that it was the court’s conclusion that, in some significant respects, the positions presented to the court by the parties represent a dispute which has widened rather than narrowed.
Mr Foley stated that in the event that Siptu in the future submits a claim to address pay matters with effect from January 1st, 2023, it will be a matter for Transdev to table any position based on “mutual gains” in the process of responding to that claim should it decide to do so.
He said the parties should recognise, however, the value of achieving an agreement at this time “which responds constructively if not comprehensively” to the Siptu claim.
