REA                                  Drimbawn Mushrooms

Effective Date                  12 December 2007

Parties to Agreement

This REA has been agreed between Drimbawn Mushrooms Ltd and SIPTU in relation to specified classes of mushroom workers. The company operates out of three locations in Mayo and one location in Kildare.

Application

It applies to mushroom harvesters, operations workers, trainee mushroom harvesters and supervisors, whether they are direct employees or employed through an agency or subcontractor. The REA does not apply to workers employed in the marketing and distribution of mushrooms. See REA for detailed definitions of all categories covered.

Remuneration

Minimum Pay

Rates of minimum pay vary depending on whether employees are paid on an hourly or productivity basis. Workers who are paid in the latter method are entitled to a payment that is measured in lbs/units where the number of lbs/units by price per lbs/units determines the gross earnings. Where employees’ rates of pay using this method fall short of the national minimum wage (link to http://www.employmentrights.ie/en/informationforemployers/nationalminimumwage), the employer must make up for any shortfall. Mushroom harvesters and operations workers who are paid on an hourly basis are entitled to a minimum rate of pay of €9.00 per hour, whereas trainee mushroom harvesters with up to three months service are entitled to a minimum payment of €6.92 per hour. Supervisors are entitled to a minimum payment of €9.90 per hour. For more details, click here. (These rates of pay are due to be increased with effect from 1 April 2008)

Overtime RatesPremium Payments

The REA establishes a system of premium time payments. Where employees are requested to work on a Sunday or a rostered day off, they are entitled to be paid a premium in addition to their normal pay. The payment is €15 per day for work of up to four hours and €3.00 per hour for every hour worked in excess of four hours.

Conditions of Employment

Working hours

The minimum rostered hours for employees in a six-day week is 30 hours (except in cases of short time working or lay off periods). The maximum rostered hours for employees in a six-day week is 48 hours, in accordance with the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.

 

Rest Periods

All employees are entitled to breaks and rest periods in accordance with the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 and the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996. (link to  ) in addition, employees must be rostered at least one day off in a seven-day week. Every third week employees must work a five-day working week and must have a full weekend off.

Holidays

Annual leave and public holiday entitlements are in accordance with the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 .  Employees are, however, required to work on public holidays. On these days they will be paid for the work done, plus an additional day’s pay or an additional day’s holiday, in accordance with statutory requirements. All annual leave arrangements must have prior approval of the employer.

Sick Pay Scheme

All mushroom employees with a minimum 6 months’ service with their current employer are entitled to payment during periods of illness. The benefit applies as follows: five working days at €20 per day (6-12 months’ service), 10 working days at €20 per day (13-24 months’ service) and 15 working days at €20 per day (25+ months’ service). This entitlement is applicable from day one of the absence provided employees meet certain conditions. On the first day of the illness employees must report their absence to his/hertheir Supervisor/Manager before the start of the shift or within the first hour of the missed shift. A valid medical certificate, specifying the nature of the illness and expected date of return to work, must cover absence in excess of three days. All subsequent medical certificates must be submitted on a weekly basis thereafter for the duration of the illness.

Link to Agricultural workers.

Miscellaneous

The REA contains specific rules on other issues, including bereavement leave, training programmes, union representation and bullying and harassment. See REA for more details.