Crunch time in Ireland as pay rise negotiations draw near

Bernard Caldwell: Vehemently disagrees that recruiting non-EU workers will help ease the strain for trainers struggling to find staff

Bernard Caldwell: chairman of the Irish Stable Staff AssociationCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Getting there but not there yet. The destination – the best possible pay combined with fewer hours and better working conditions – is still a dot in the distance but there was a time not so long ago when it was not visible at all.

The 2016 minimum wage increase, from €9.75 to €10.75 an hour, was certainly a step in the right direction and another salary hike could be in store over the coming months as the Irish Stable Staff Association and the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association enter crucial negotiations.

Bernard Caldwell, chairman of the ISSA, believes the talks will be critical and is approaching the negotiations with optimism.

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David JenningsDeputy Ireland editor

Published on 10 February 2019inSeries

Last updated 17:46, 10 February 2019

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