C&C Workers Fail To Secure Desired 7% Pay Rise

130 workers at Bulmers cider manufacturer C&C Group's production facility in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, have failed to secure a desired 7% pay rise over three years.

According to The Irish Independent, trade union SIPTU told the Labour Court on behalf of the C&C workers that C&C "is profitable and has a healthy balance sheet", and the workers "have continued to work and have adapted to the significant challenges throughout the entire coronavirus lockdown, and therefore [they] deserve a reasonable pay increase".

The workers wanted a 2% pay increase from June 1, 2019, an additional 2% increase from June 1, 2020, and a 3% increase from June 1, 2021.

SIPTU also asked the court to recommend an increase in the value of C&C workers' Christmas voucher from €250 to €500 for 2019, 2020 and 2021.

C&C Response

C&C responded by saying that initial talks with SIPTU took place before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the pandemic and future "represent challenges that must be responded to and the company is not in a position to an offer of a three-year agreement".

C&C offered a 2% pay increase from June 1, 2019, and an additional 2% increase from June 1, 2020, as well as an increase in the value of the workers' Christmas voucher to €300 in year one and €400 in year two.

Court Recommendations

Deputy chairman at the Labour Court Alan Haugh has recommended a 2% pay increase from June 1, 2019, and an additional 2.5% increase from June 1, 2020.

The court also recommended that the Christmas voucher value be increased to €400 for 2019 and 2020.

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