A comprehensive three-year agreement that affords considerable pay and allowances increases has been secured by SIPTU members at Coillte, Ireland’s semi-state forestry company.
The agreement, which covers the period 1st January 2025 until 31st December 2027 provides for base pay increases of 6.5% over this time. Significantly, the agreement includes a new pensionable annual allowance that increases over the lifetime of the agreement to reach €1,544 by July 2027.
When combined with the pay increases, the agreement will deliver increases of just over 11% for lower paid workers or almost 10% for those on a salary of more than €45,000 per year.
SIPTU activist and Coillte employee, Richard Geraghty said: “The Agreement has been welcomed by members as it helps negate the inflationary pressures and cost of living increases that all workers have suffered. In particular, it marks a real improvement for those on lower pay.”
The pay increases will be implemented as follows:
- 1st January 2025 – 2% plus €750 per annum pensionable allowance
- 1st July 2025 – 5%
- 1st January 2026 – 2% plus an extra €500 into the pensionable allowance
- 1st January 2027 – 2%
- 1st July 2027 – an extra €250 into the pensionable allowance
A tax-free voucher that will be paid in 2027 is also part of the agreement.
The pensionable allowance was secured to offset the effects of inflation over recent years and was structured to benefit the lower paid. In addition, the mobility allowances will be increased by 8% from the beginning of the agreement on the 1st January 2025.
An increase was secured in the Support Operative daily payment for absence from a central working point of 3.75% from 1st January 2025, which brings the payment to €13.00. It will remain at this for the duration of the agreement. SIPTU ensured that the Forest Operative Category attained their sought-after parity in this payment by the end of the agreement.
The Forest Operative Category will get an effective 131% increase in this payment two years from the commencement of the agreement as the rate will increase from the current €5.61 per day to:
1st January 2025 €11.00
1st January 2026 €12.00
1st January 2027 €13.00
The above payments are revenue compliant tax-free daily payments, and the Forest Operatives will also be supplied with company transport.
Sick pay will increase at the same rate as the basic pay rates and the company will top up the social welfare rate for seven of the nine weeks with the additional two weeks at the social welfare rate only. The compassionate leave policy is amended to better support additional leave days following the death of immediate family members.
The non-pensionable Continuous Responsibility allowance will increase by 11% from €2,700 to €3000 from the 1st January 2025.
SIPTU Divisional Organiser, Willie Noone, said: “This pay agreement gives visibility on pay movement in this employment until the end of 2027. It introduces equity in some of the payments, which was a significant issue for many members. Importantly, it also gives higher percentage increases to the lower paid in this employment.”