New minimum pay rates and conditions for catering workers in Dublin come into effect today, in spite of concerted opposition by McDonald's Restaurants.
An order made by the Labour Court gives catering workers in Dublin city and Dún Laoghaire minimum entitlements in a range of areas for the first time.
A similar order, covering areas including basic pay, meal breaks and holidays, is already in existence for workers outside the capital. The new regulations for Dublin follow months of tough negotiations between employer and union representatives. When a draft order was published in March, it drew 22 objections from employers, 19 of which came from McDonald's Restaurants.
Most were issued by McDonald's Restaurants of Ireland on behalf of individual outlets, while others were made directly by restaurants themselves. The objections related to wage levels, paid meal breaks, the amount of pay to be deducted for staff provided with meals and the introduction of a sick-pay scheme. The new rates mean catering workers classed as "general assistants" will be legally entitled to receive slightly more than the minimum wage of €6.35 an hour.
McDonald's said the new rates were not justified by the levels of work performed. In at least one objection, it also claimed the introduction of a sick-pay scheme would be a "charter for extra paid holidays".
McDonald's declined to comment yesterday. IBEC said the new rates would add to labour costs and inevitably lead to job losses. SIPTU, however, said they would address exploitation in a sector noted for poor pay and conditions. Hotels are not covered by the order, which provides fully trained chefs and waiters with respective minimum wage rates of €294 and €271 a week.
Clerical workers and general assistants with at least three years' experience are each to receive minimum weekly pay of €286.