Labour Court recommends 7.5% pay increase for National Lottery staff

Workers at the company that operates the National Lottery look set for their own little lotto win.

This follows the Labour Court recommending a 7.5 per cent pay increase for middle managers and clerical staff at the National Lottery firm, the Canadian-owned Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI).

On behalf of its 52 members at the company, the trade union Fórsa lodged a pay claim and the dispute could not be resolved at a conciliation conference at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

This resulted in the matter being referred to the Labour Court. Now after hearing submissions from both sides, the Labour Court has recommended the 7.5 per cent pay increase in phases.

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The pay increase comprises of a pay increase of 2.5 per cent from January 2018; a further 2.5 per cent pay increase from April of this year and a third 2.5 per cent pay increase from April 2020.

Fórsa was seeking a 5 per cent pay increase to be made over 2018 and 2019.

The union told the Labour Court that it believes the financial situation in the company means that the business can afford these pay increases – in 2017, PLI recorded operating profits of €17.4 million.

No conditions

The union was also requesting that no conditions should be sought in return for the pay increases.

PLI was offering a pay increase over a three-year period and was requesting that certain conditions be met in return for the pay increases.

The firm stated that what it was offering was “fair and reasonable”.

The company made its final proposal to Fórsa in August of last year.

The Labour Court has recommended that the pay increases be made on acceptance of the underpinning principles as contained in PLI’s proposals set out on 6th June last.

It also recommended that on acceptance of its recommendation that both parties should enter discussions on the other issues of concern for the company.

A spokeswoman for the National Lottery said on Friday: “PLI has proactively engaged at a high level with Fórsa on a pay deal since October 2017.

“PLI is keen to have this matter resolved, and acknowledges the recommendation of the Labour Court.”

The 52 Fórsa members make up 45 per cent of staff and a spokesman for the union said: “We’re currently consulting with our members on the recommendation.”