This article reviews the upcoming wage adjustments for Primark workers as outlined by the company and the union after the 2023-2025 collective bargaining negotiations. The union reported that the agreement will result in wage increases over the next three years, with a focus on improving overall compensation and working conditions for staff.
Under the agreement, targeted pay increases are scheduled for 2023, 2024, and 2025. Specifically, a 7.3% rise is planned for 2023, followed by a 5.5% increase in 2024, and a 5.2% rise in 2025. When calculated across the three-year period, these adjustments total a cumulative 19% wage increase for the workforce. Additionally, the agreement recognizes four years of seniority dating back to 2010, contributing to a total salary uplift of 23% for employees who joined before 2013.
The deal also introduces several workforce enhancements. It provides for eleven fully paid weekends off for fashion department employees and reduces mandatory work on Sundays and holidays. Compensation for such duties has been raised to 40 euros per instance. The package also includes measures aimed at reducing bias and ensuring fair treatment of workers, along with a commitment to consolidating 30% of extra hours and guaranteeing a minimum of 20 hours for part-time contracts (defined as contracts longer than three days). There is also a consideration for future vacancies, with an allocation of up to 25 hours to address anticipated openings.
Additionally, the agreement clarifies that certain scheduling practices, such as the first shift during vacation periods and paid time off, will be treated consistently as working days, removing previous ambiguities that could affect compensation.
The CC.OO. union highlighted the wage increase as a major milestone, noting that the staff mobilization was a significant driver behind the decision. The contract enhancements extend to a broad portion of the workforce, including the department store and provincial contracts, which collectively push the hourly wage toward roughly 12 euros by 2025.
The deal aligns with Primark’s adherence to the Anged framework for functional purposes and positions the company to engage in potential future negotiations within broader discussions on the textile trade. This context includes ongoing dialogues about a government framework for textile industry negotiations and the involvement of the new employers’ association with which Primark is integrated. These elements are presented as temporary and conditional, reflecting the evolving nature of industry-wide labor relations. (Source: CC.OO union statement)